… generates N145Billion in January
The Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, has declared that the Command is set to usher in a new phase of fully digital customs operations, aligning with the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) plan to achieve 100 per cent paperless processing.
Speaking during an engagement with maritime journalists, Onyeka described the meeting as the first in a series of stakeholder-sensitisation efforts ahead of the Service’s second-quarter rollout of the new digital regime.
“When I resumed here, you supported me through constructive reportage. I am here again to seek your continued collaboration to ensure the success of the paperless regime”, he said.
The Controller disclosed that the Command generated ₦609 billion in revenue in 2025, underscoring its strategic importance to national revenue collection. He added that the Command has already sustained strong performance in 2026, generating ₦145 billion in January alone, compared to ₦116 billion recorded in the same period last year — an increase of ₦29.9 billion.
Setting the tone for the year, Onyeka announced a shift in operational philosophy, stressing that Customs must now be seen as a partner in trade rather than a barrier.
“We want to do things differently. We want to be known as trade enablers”, he stated.
Under the new paperless regime, containers are expected to be cleared with zero physical contact between Customs officers and clearing agents — a reform designed to reduce delays, eliminate unnecessary human interface, and curb operational bottlenecks.
Onyeka credited the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for driving the reform agenda, describing him as the architect of the Service’s ongoing digital transformation.
“I want to be known as a trade facilitator personified”, the Controller said, reaffirming his commitment to seamless implementation at Tin Can Port.
While acknowledging the possibility of occasional network disruptions, Onyeka assured stakeholders that officers of the Command are well trained, proactive and fully prepared to manage the transition without compromising efficiency.
Addressing concerns about potential system manipulation, he maintained that the Service now operates globally compliant processes supported by a new generation of trained officers.
He expressed confidence in B’Odogwu, the indigenous Unified Customs Management System that will power the transformation, noting that the platform is designed to enhance transparency, accountability and operational integrity.
The Controller also dismissed fears that the digital transition could trigger cargo congestion, insisting that the reform would instead accelerate clearance procedures and significantly reduce port dwell time.
With the planned rollout, Tin Can Island Port Command is positioning itself at the forefront of Customs’ digital revolution — redefining its role from gatekeeper to trade enabler in Nigeria’s Maritime Sector.