The Tin Can Island Port Command (TCIPC) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is on an unmistakable upward climb, with Comptroller Frank Onyeka and his dedicated officers garnering admiration across the maritime sector.
Their performance, marked by efficiency, innovation, and resilience has continued to set the Command apart as a model of excellence.
The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Onyeka, celebrated for his mastery of revenue generation, has equally distinguished himself as a champion of legitimate trade facilitation and a vigilant opponent of smuggling. Even amid the transition from NICIS II to the newly launched Unified Customs Management System—popularly known as the B’Odogwu platform with its expected teething challenges, the Command has remained focused, resourceful, and remarkably productive.
A Blockbuster November and a Trillion-Naira Milestone
A look into the Command’s recent performance reveals an impressive revenue upswing. For November alone, TCIPC generated a staggering ₦135,210,533,902.89, marking its fourth-highest monthly revenue this year. This figure surpasses the ₦120,196,625,585.37 collected during the same month in 2024; a testament to improved operations and compliance.
More notably, from January to November 2025, the Command crossed a monumental threshold, hitting ₦1,451,302,144,680.89 in total revenue. This trillion-naira feat underscores the Command’s commitment to plugging leakages, enhancing trade processes, and meeting national fiscal expectations.
Tough on Smuggling: Major Drug Busts Recorded
Beyond revenue, TCIPC has also strengthened its anti-smuggling strike force. In October, the Command intercepted several illicit substances—including Cannabis indica, methamphetamine, and other hard drugs—ingeniously concealed in incoming containers. Valued at ₦5.304 billion, these seizures represent a major blow to narcotics traffickers and affirm the Command’s intolerance for illegal trade.
Operational Excellence Through Technology and Strategy
Onyeka has aligned the Command with cutting-edge customs practices, integrating tools such as the Advance Ruling System and the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme. These instruments have sharpened operational efficiency, improved predictability in trade processes, and boosted stakeholder confidence.
A hallmark of Onyeka’s administration has been proactive stakeholder engagement. Upon assumption of office, he prioritised relationship-building meeting stakeholders individually, resolving operational pain points, and fostering seamless collaboration without neglecting core mandates. Officers affirm that these engagements have been instrumental in achieving record-breaking success.
Double Triumph at CGC Conference 2025
The recently concluded Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Conference proved unforgettable for TCIPC, as it clinched two major awards:
Best in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Special Award in B’Odogwu Platform Performance
These accolades celebrate the Command’s strategic impact, community-oriented contributions, and mastery of the new customs automation platform.
A Culture of Excellence Amid Challenges
Officers within the Command openly acknowledged that 2025 has been “an incredibly record-breaking year”, despite the turbulence that accompanied migration to the B’Odogwu system. The dismantling of operational bottlenecks, streamlined processes, improved stakeholder compliance, and a tough stance against illegitimate trade have collectively reshaped the Command’s landscape.
With the anticipated launch of the National Single Window in January, operations are expected to become even smoother, further tightening compliance and limiting opportunities for economic sabotage.
The Road Ahead
Though not one for many words, Onyeka consistently emphasises his core commitments: seamless trade facilitation, robust economic protection, and sustainable revenue generation. As TCIPC celebrates yet another milestone, expectations are high that this momentum will drive even greater achievements—closing loopholes, strengthening national economic security, and contributing to Nigeria’s development agenda.
The Tin Can Island Port Command stands today not merely as a revenue generator but as a symbol of strategic reform, operational innovation, and unwavering national service.