The newly appointed Customs Area Controller of the Tincan Island Port Command, Comptroller Joseph Anani, has rolled out an ambitious agenda focused on compliance, trade facilitation, operational efficiency, and enhanced collaboration with stakeholders and security agencies.
According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Oscar Ivara, Comptroller Anani has commenced his stewardship with a series of strategic engagements, inspections, and courtesy visits aimed at strengthening operations at one of Nigeria’s busiest seaports and advancing the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
As part of his familiarisation tour, the Controller undertook extensive inspections of Customs formations and terminals within the Command to gain first-hand knowledge of existing facilities, assess officers’ welfare and working conditions, and evaluate the overall operational environment. The exercise, his first official assignment, was designed to identify areas for improvement and ensure personnel are well-positioned to deliver on the Service’s core responsibilities.
In a move to deepen stakeholder engagement, Anani held a strategic meeting with major freight forwarding associations, including the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), APFLON, and other industry players.
During the meeting, he stressed the importance of compliance with Customs procedures, professionalism, and partnership as critical ingredients for seamless trade operations at the port.
The Controller outlined a blueprint anchored on strict adherence to the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and other extant regulations. He called for higher standards in port transactions and warned against misconduct, indiscipline, and practices capable of undermining the integrity of the Service.
“We are setting a new tone anchored on compliance, collaboration, and service excellence. Every stakeholder has a role to play in making Tincan Island Port a model of trade facilitation and operational efficiency,” Anani stated.
He also convened a roundtable meeting with terminal operators, shipping companies, importers, exporters, and captains of industry, assuring them of an open-door policy and a conducive business environment that would support legitimate trade and contribute to economic growth.
The Customs chief further urged terminal operators to improve infrastructure within their facilities and expand operational spaces to attract more vessel traffic, improve competitiveness, and boost efficiency at the port.
Recognising the critical role of inter-agency collaboration in securing the nation’s maritime gateways, Anani paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Port Authority Police (Western Command), CP Toyin Agbaminoja. Both officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on port security, intelligence sharing, and the protection of lives and property.
The Commissioner of Police pledged the continued support of the Nigeria Police Force through enhanced intelligence gathering and operational collaboration.
In a similar effort to strengthen the fight against illicit trade and transnational crimes, the Controller also visited the Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Commander Solomon Omotosho.
During the meeting, both agencies discussed strategies to sustain synergy in combating drug trafficking and other criminal activities within and around the port environment. They emphasized intelligence-driven operations, information sharing, and coordinated enforcement actions as essential tools for preventing the movement of illicit narcotics through Nigeria’s ports.
Anani expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the confidence reposed in him through his appointment as Customs Area Controller of the Tincan Island Port Command.
He pledged to build on existing achievements and advance the Service’s mandates in revenue generation, trade facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and national security.
According to Ivara, the Command will continue to align with the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General, anchored on the pillars of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation, as it seeks to enhance efficiency, facilitate legitimate trade and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime trade hub.
