Comptroller Frank Onyeka, Customs Area Controller (CAC), Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has tasked Officers and Men of his Command on the importance of conducting thorough examinations of goods before their exit from the port. The Controller made the call in Lagos during a parade with his officers.
He urged them to carry out diligent inspections to avoid unnecessary stop-and-search actions upon departure.
He highlighted the need for National security to be prioritised in all decisions.
Comptroller Onyeka also commended the workforce for their contributions to the Command’s revenue performance in January, encouraging them to continue striving for excellence. He announced plans to organise capacity-building workshops aimed at enhancing the knowledge of both officers and stakeholders on Customs processes.
Additionally, he cautioned officers to maintain professionalism and civility in their interactions with the trading public, warning that any reports of misconduct would not be tolerated.
In another development, Comptroller Onyeka on Wednesday played host to the newly deployed Director of State Services Mr. SM Kayode, and the Tin Can Island Port Command Chairman of Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFLON), Comrade Akeem Ayibojo and his members, who paid familiarisation visits to the Command.
The visits, held separately within the Command reaffirmed the commitment of both organisations to collaborate in ensuring smooth port operations and preventing the entry of harmful products.
The Comptroller, while reacting to some of the technical issues raised by APFLON, clarified that the Command is repositioned towards promoting the three core policies of the Comptroller General of Customs which are to collaborate, consolidate and innovate, towards creating a safe and conducive working environment that will not pose a threat to the Nation and it citizenry.
He called on all the stakeholders to broaden their knowledge on the implementation of new policies of the service and that the soon-to-be launched B’Odogwu clearance system in the Command by the Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi will further boost the efficiency of Customs operations.
Speaking at the meeting, the APFFLON chairman said “We are here to express our intention to fully colaborate with the Customs Area Controller as we have all witnessed the introduction of the national single window. We shall also wish to speak about some of our challenges and seek to get some favourable responses from your good self sir.”
While responding, Comptroller Onyeka said “There is no gain saying it that this collaboration is very good and I have always had a very good support from APFFLON. I remember being highly recommended by the words of an APFFLON member when I was the deputy comptroller, valuation at this Command then and will surely never take your support for granted.”
Speakers at the meeting urged the CAC to continue to be the listening helmsman that he is and also to make sure that his leadership qualities continue to reflect on the manner with which his officers relate with stakeholders. They equally asked for the same concession that every other stakeholder gets.
Comptroller Onyeka asked the APFFLON members to always speak up in any case of procedural lapses within the system as he assured them that the case of multiple alert is no more happening at the Command with due diligence being observed along the line of all procedures. He added that there are smoother goods clearing processes now. . On the complaint about the issue of communication network down time, the CAC said that he wishes that he can personally solve that matter, but that is t is a general problem which everyone should continue to speak about until a proper solution is found.
