The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has praised the extraordinary leadership qualities being exhibited by the Customs Area Controller of Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Frank Onyeka.
This commendation came from NAGAFF’s National President, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, during a familiarisation visit to the Command by the NAGAFF Cargo Watch Team on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Ezisi, who was represented by the Secretary General of NAGAFF, Fwdr. Godfrey Nwosu, noted that Onyeka has truly set a benchmark in the realm of management and administration of the Command. “Your commitment to the three pivotal objectives of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and national security is commendable”, Ezisi said.
He also commended the CAC for usually extending his official working hours beyond normal work hours. “You have taken it upon yourself to work beyond those hours, even to some part of the mid-hours of the night, and doing so voluntarily, not as if you are under any compulsion but because you simply want to ensure that every trade-related concern raised by our members and other Customs brokers is dealt with effectively.
“Reinforcing seamless trade operations is evident amongst us. We can attest to that.”
Ezisi posited, “we also want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support to NAGAFF Cargo Watch Radio – our media outlet. Through this channel, we can share vital information about port operations and actively engage with our stakeholders on challenges they encounter.
“Your role as one of the primary sponsors of our weekly programme, NAGAFF Cargo Watch Radio, has not gone unnoticed, and we are immensely grateful for your contributions.”
The NAGAFF President further stressed the need to continually engage major stakeholders in the clearing and forwarding business for seamless cargo clearing activities, saying, “we kindly encourage you to continue keeping your doors open as we are eager to engage in further discussions about your extraordinary achievements and the fantastic work being done.”
Adding his voice, the Chairman of the Fact-Finding Committee of NAGAFF, Dr. Arthur Igwilo, remarked that NAGAFF and Nigeria Customs Service are partners in progress, hence working towards one goal which is trade facilitation, revenue generation, and national security.
He further pointed out the role of NAGAFF Cargo Watch, a media arm of the organisation, has been playing in the information dissemination and propagation of issues and events in the Maritime industry, including that of the NCS, will now project the activities and happenings in the Tincan Island Command. He used the forum to commend Onyeka, saying, “ever since you took the mantle of leadership here, there’s a new turnout of events”.
On her part, the producer and presenter of NAGAFF Cargo Watch on Radio and TV YouTube, Ruth Sunday, commended the Tincan Island Command Controller for his exemplary style of leadership, which has endeared him to freight forwarders, and thanked him for his support to the radio programme while pledging to align with the Command to ensure the success of his administration.
In his reaction, Onyeka, appreciated the visit by NAGAFF and confirmed maintaining a very close relationship with the Founder of NAGAFF, Chief Boniface Aniebonam, for the past 21 years, even before the Association moved to its headquarters in Apapa. “When I tell people that NAGAFF is my DNA, it’s not an understatement”, he added.
The CAC added: “The Founder of NAGAFF has been watching my back over the years, his feedback has always been very constructive, whatever achievement that I’ve recorded, it’s because of the type of feedback I’ve gotten from people that make up NAGAFF. The Founder is an honest stakeholder and leader. I have followed him for the past 25 years.
“NAGAFF will always play according to the rules. NAGAFF will not do any push, they always open containers (for you to know what’s in there), they may not pay well but they open containers as a form of declaration, which is more important to me as a Customs Officers”.