When Comptroller Frank Onyeka emerged as the new Customs Area Controller at Tincan Island Port (TCIP) nine months ago, the bar was already very high courtesy the good work of his predecessor, Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG) Dera Nnadi mni.
Many wondered if the bar could get higher for revenue generation, trade facilitation and the infrastructure restructuring at the Command. Comptroller Onyeka, when quizzed about the possibility of surpassing his predecessor’s attainment, modestly stressed the place of God’s grace and stakeholders collaboration in his affirmation.
Few weeks ago, on a breezy Tuesday morning in late August, the usually bustling Tin Can Island Port carried an unusual sense of triumph. As containers rolled in and out, and Customs officers manned their posts, a quiet milestone was being recorded in the Command’s ledgers. By the end of the day, the Nigeria Customs Service at Tincan Island had generated an eye-watering N16.4 billion in revenue in a single day—a feat never before achieved in the Command’s history.
For Comptroller Frank Onyeka, this moment was more than a numerical victory. It was, in his words, a reflection of “the game-changing role of technology and teamwork in modernising port operations.”
The “technology” he referred to was the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) also known as B’Odogwu, a platform that has been quietly revolutionising how cargo is cleared at Nigeria’s busiest ports.
A Command on the Rise
Revenue generation has always been the barometer of Customs’ performance. Yet, under Onyeka’s watch, Tincan Island has not just hit targets—it has smashed them. In the first half of 2025, the Command raked in N747.08 billion, nearly 30 percent higher than the N575.36 billion it collected during the same period in 2024. In fact, by June, the Command had already achieved 98 percent of its expected target for the half year.
Month after month, the figures told the same story of growth. January brought in N116.4 billion, February crossed N103 billion, and by April, collections peaked at N145 billion. Each number stood not just as a financial tally but as evidence of operational efficiency and an increasingly transparent revenue ecosystem.
Civil society networks and trade analysts were quick to applaud the surge. A coalition of civil society groups even issued a statement crediting the Customs leadership’s reforms for “closing leakages, boosting transparency, and aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The B’Odogwu Effect
At the heart of this transformation lies B’Odogwu, the new digital backbone of port operations. Rolled out earlier this year, the system integrates all Customs processes into one seamless interface. For freight forwarders and licensed Customs agents, it has meant fewer bottlenecks, faster payments, and real-time clearance.
“Before now, delays and system downtime were routine frustrations. Today, B’Odogwu has given us speed, predictability, and accuracy,” Onyeka told journalists during one of his regular press briefings.
In just six months, more than 3,400 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) were filed under the new system. To ensure a smooth transition, the Command organised a series of online and in-person trainings for stakeholders—from terminal operators to shipping companies.
The results are tangible. Importers now move cargo with fewer delays, and Customs can track shipments more accurately, reducing the scope for under-declaration or fraud.
Guarding the Borders
But Onyeka’s success story is not only about revenue. It is also about enforcement. In the first half of the year, Tin Can Command recorded several high-profile anti-smuggling breakthroughs.
Two containers were intercepted carrying illicit drugs worth more than N8 billion, including cannabis indica and crystal methamphetamine, collectively weighing over a metric tonne. The contraband was promptly handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In another operation, a 40-foot container supposedly loaded with used cars concealed a cache of weapons: pistols, live ammunition, blank rounds, empty magazines, and handcuffs. The discovery, made possible through a mix of physical inspection and non-intrusive scanning, underscored the Command’s vigilance. The arms, along with the implicated consignee and declarant, were handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS).
“These seizures remind us that Customs is not just about trade and revenue. It is about security—about protecting the nation and its people from threats at the borders,” Onyeka stressed.
Dialogue and Trust
Central to Onyeka’s administration is stakeholder engagement. Recognising that ports function as an ecosystem, he has prioritised inclusive dialogue with terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, and government agencies.
Regular interactive forums with captains of industry have created space for candid conversations on operational challenges and reforms. Feedback is actively sought, ensuring that policy changes are not imposed but co-created with those they affect.
The Command has also made media transparency a hallmark of its operations. Journalists are frequently briefed, and press forums organised, keeping the public informed about both successes and challenges. For port users long accustomed to opacity, this openness is a refreshing change.
Leadership and Inspiration
While Onyeka’s name has become synonymous with efficiency at Tin Can, he is quick to defer credit to his boss, Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who was recently elected Chairman of the World Customs Organisation Council. Describing the victory as “divine,” Onyeka praised Adeniyi’s leadership, reforms, and unwavering support, which he said provided the foundation for Tin Can’s successes.
He has also repeatedly reminded his officers that the Command’s achievements are a product of their professionalism and bravery. “Our strength lies in the competence of our men and women,” he said. “We must remain vigilant, committed, and innovative. He Stated.
As Nigeria intensifies efforts to diversify its economy and strengthen non-oil revenue, the performance at Tincan Island Port offers a glimpse of what is possible. With technology like B’Odogwu redefining trade facilitation, robust enforcement keeping smugglers in check, and a leadership style that prizes collaboration, Tin Can is fast becoming a model for Customs operations nationwide.
Yet, for Onyeka, the numbers and headlines are not the end goal. “Revenue is important, but our real mandate is broader: to facilitate trade, safeguard our borders, and create a port environment that supports Nigeria’s economic growth,” he posited.
In a sector long dogged by inefficiency and opacity, that vision feels both ambitious and necessary. If recent achievements are anything to go by, Tin Can Island Customs Command may well be setting the pace for a bold new era in Nigeria’s maritime trade.
