By Peace Udugba
The newly appointed Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Joe Anani, has warned officers and personnel of the command against acts of corruption, compromise, and misconduct capable of tarnishing the image of the Service and undermining national interests.
Comptroller Anani issued the warning shortly after officially taking over leadership of the command from the immediate past CAC, Frank Okechukwu Onyeka, who was recently promoted and appointed Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG).
He also urged importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, and other stakeholders to comply fully with extant trade regulations by avoiding smuggling, under-declaration of cargo, and underpayment of duties in the interest of trade facilitation and national economic growth.
The new CAC expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, and the management team of the Service for considering him worthy of redeployment from the Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command to the strategic Tin Can Island Port Command.
Anani commended ACG Onyeka for his achievements in revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations during his tenure, pledging to consolidate on the successes already recorded.
“It is with profound gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today as the Area Controller of this prestigious seaport command,” he said.
“I sincerely thank the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management of the Nigeria Customs Service for finding me worthy to serve at the Tin Can Island Port Command. I recognise the importance of this command to national revenue generation, trade facilitation, and security, and I accept this responsibility with humility and commitment.
Anani noted that under his leadership, the command would witness improved efficiency in revenue collection, trade facilitation, and the suppression of smuggling activities.
According to him, the achievements recorded by ACG Onyeka have repositioned the Tin Can Island Command as a critical gateway for legitimate trade in Nigeria.
“I pledge from this day that my focus will be on building a command that is even more efficient, transparent, and result-oriented,” he stated.
Addressing officers and men of the command, Anani said he was familiar with the operational structure and challenges of the command, having spent a significant part of his career there.
“I return not as a stranger, but as one of you, committed to working side-by-side with you to uphold the mandate of the Service,” he added.
The CAC charged officers to strictly adhere to extant laws, operational guidelines, and standard procedures in the discharge of their duties, stressing that professionalism, discipline, and intelligence must remain the hallmark of their conduct.
“We will not tolerate compromise, inefficiency, or any act capable of undermining the Service and the nation,” he warned.
He also called for stronger collaboration with other security and government agencies operating within the port environment, noting that national security and trade facilitation require collective responsibility.
“Through mutual respect, timely information sharing, and joint operations, we can better secure our borders and facilitate legitimate trade,” he said.
To stakeholders, the CAC appealed for full compliance in all trade transactions, including prompt and accurate declaration of goods and payment of duties.
He maintained that the command would reward compliance while dealing decisively with any form of infraction.
Anani further assured officers, stakeholders, and partners that his administration would operate an open-door policy to encourage constructive engagement.
“Together, we will sustain the progress made at the Tin Can Island Command and continue to position it as a benchmark of excellence within the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.
