Frank Okechukwu Onyeke, newly appointed Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG) and immediate past Customs Area Controller (CAC), Tincan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (right) with Comptroller Joe Anani, new Customs Area Controller of Tincan Island Command of NCS(left), during the handing over ceremony at Tincan Island Port, Lagos.
By ANDREW UTULU
The new Customs Area Controller (CAC), Tincan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Joe Anani, has warned officers and men of his command to shun graft, compromise and every act that could bring disrepute to the Command, the Service and undermine National interests.
Comptroller Anani, who sounded the note of warning shortly after taking over the mantle of leadership from Frank Okechukwu Onyeka, the immediate past CAC, who had been appointed Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG), also urged importers, exporters, agents and other critical stakeholders to play according to rules and shun smuggling, under-declaration of cargoes and underpayments for the overall interest of trade facilitation and economy of the Nation.
The CAC commended the Comptroller General of Custom, CGC Adewale Bashir Adeniyi and his management team for finding him worthy of redeployment from the Ports and Terminal Multipurpose Services Limited (PTML) to the enviable Tincan Island seaport Command of the Service.
He also commended ACG Onyeka for the giant strides he made in revenue generation and anti-smuggling, pledging to consolidate on the good work of the ACG.
He said: “It is with profound gratitude and deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today, as the Area Controller of this prestigious seaport. First, I need to express my sincere gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and other Management staff of the Nigeria Customs Service, for finding me worthy to be deployed to Tincan Island Port Command of the Service. I recognize the importance of this Command to National revenue, trade and security. I accept this responsibility with humility and commitment. I also wish to commend the ACG for the giant strides that he recorded during his tenure.”
He averred that under his leadership, the Command would witnessed progress in revenue collection, trade facilitation, and the suppression of smuggling activities.
He noted that ACG Onyeka’s achievements have raised the bar and repositioned the Tincan Island Command as a critical gate way for legitimate trade.
Frank Okechukwu Onyeke, newly appointed Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG) and immediate past Area Controller, Tincan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (sitting seventh left) and Comptroller Joe Anani, new Customs Area Controller (CAC), Tincan Island Command of NCS (sitting sixth right), flanked by officers and men of Tincan Island and PTML Customs Commands with other critical stakeholders, during the handing over by ACG Onyeka to CAC Anani at Tincan Island Port, Lagos.
“I pledge with the date of this day, that my focus will be building a command that is even more efficient, transparent and result oriented. To the officers and men of Tincan Island Command, let me remind you that this command is known to me, I spent a substantial part of my career here. I understand the operations, the challenges and its potentials. I return not as a stranger, but as one of you. Committed to working side-by-side to uphold the mandate of the service.
He charged officers to adhere strictly to the extant laws, guidelines and standard operating procedures in the discharge of your duties, emphasizing that professionalism, intelligence and discipline must remain the hallmark of their conduct.
“We will not tolerate compromise, inefficiency, or act that undermine the service and nation entirely.
“Furthermore, I request our continuous synergy with all our sister agencies operating within the command. National security and trade facilitation are shared responsibility. Through mutual respect, timely information sharing, and joint action we secure our borders and facilitate legitimate trade.
“To all our esteem stakeholders, I urge you to ensure full compliance in all your transactions. Prompt and accurate declaration payment of duties and adherence to trade facilitation,” which said are essential for trade facilitation and national growth.
The Command, according to CAC Anani, would reward compliance and deal decisively with infractions.
“Finally, I reassure everyone here that my administration will operate an open-door policy. My office will be accessible to officers, stakeholders and partners who seek constructive engagement. Together, we will sustain the progress made at the Tincan Island Command as a benchmark for excellence within the Nigeria Customs Service,” Comptroller Anani enthused.
