TINCAN COMMAND: ONYEKA ASCENDS TO HIGHER RANK, HANDS OVER MANTLE TO ANANI
By Mcanthony Onuoha
The immediate past Controller of Tincan Island Port Command, now Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Frank Okechukwu Onyeka, on Friday, 22nd of May, 2026, handed over the Administrative mantle of the Command to Compt. Joe Anani.
In an elaborate ceremony, that brought together partner – agencies and other stakeholders, Onyeka expressed profound appreciation to the Comptroller General of Customs for giving him the opportunity to serve as Tincan Command’s Area Controller, and thanked agencies, maritime practitioners as well as the maritime media for their unwavering support and genuine collaborations.
Part of his handover speech read, “It is with deep gratitude to Almighty God and a profound sense of fulfillment that I come before you today to formally hand over the
leadership of Tincan Island Port Command following my elevation to the
prestigious rank of Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs.”
“This moment is both emotional and historic for me. Serving as the
Customs Area Controller of this great Command has been one of the greatest honours of my career in the Nigeria Customs Service. The journey has been challenging, rewarding, and highly impactful, made
possible by the unwavering support of officers, stakeholders, and the leadership of the Service.”
“Permit me to reflect briefly on some of the milestones we collectively achieved during my stewardship at Tincan Island Port
Command. Through the dedication, professionalism, and commitment of officers
and men of this Command, we were able to generate a total Revenue of
N1,609,874,328,972.55 for the 2025 fiscal year, surpassing its assigned
target of N1,524,669,999,478.52.”
“In the same vein, the Command has
collected a total Revenue of N401,011,998, 443.71 for the first quarter
of the 2026 fiscal year. This achievement was not accidental; it was the product of discipline, intelligence-driven operations, improved
compliance strategies, robust stakeholder engagement, and the deployment
of modern trade facilitation mechanisms aimed at balancing enforcement
with legitimate trade.”
“In the area of anti-smuggling and enforcement, the Command recorded
significant breakthroughs, particularly in the interception and seizure
of illicit drugs and other prohibited items with an estimated street
value exceeding Thirty-Five Billion Naira. These seizures underscore our
collective resolve to protect the nation from criminal networks and to
safeguard the health, security, and future of our society. Our efforts
reinforced the role of the Nigeria Customs Service as a critical national security agency committed to combating transnational organized crime.”
Recognizing that sustainable success in port operations requires collaboration, we also prioritized extensive stakeholders’ engagement
throughout my tenure. We maintained open channels of communication and strengthened partnerships with freight forwarders, terminal operators, shipping
companies, importers, exporters, government agencies, and the entire
trading community. These engagements significantly improved mutual
understanding, operational efficiency, dispute resolution mechanisms, and overall compliance levels within the port environment.”
“Furthermore, we invested heavily in human capital development. The
Command organized and facilitated several capacity-building programmes,
workshops, training sessions, and professional development initiatives
aimed at improving the competence, efficiency, and morale of officers
and men. I firmly believe that the strength of any institution lies in
the quality and preparedness of its personnel, and I am proud of the strides we made in this regard.”
“I must also acknowledge our support for the Customs Officers’ Wives
Association (COWA), who’s humanitarian and family-oriented programmes
continue to positively impact the welfare of officers’ families and the
larger community. We recognized the importance of family support systems
in building a motivated and productive workforce, and we were pleased to
contribute meaningfully to the advancement of COWA initiatives during my
tenure.”
At this juncture, I wish to express my deepest appreciation to the
Comptroller-General of Customs and Chairman of the World Customs
Organization Council, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR PhD psc (+), for his
visionary leadership, confidence in my abilities, and unwavering support
throughout my tenure. His transformational leadership philosophy has
continued to reposition the Nigeria Customs Service for greater
efficiency, professionalism, transparency, and national relevance. I remain profoundly grateful for the opportunity given to me to serve in this strategic Command.”
“To the management team of Tincan Island Port Command, I extend my
heartfelt appreciation for your loyalty, professionalism, wise counsel,
and tireless contributions. Your cooperation made governance easier and
enabled us to achieve our collective goals. Every success recorded
during this period was the product of teamwork and shared commitment.”
“To the officers and men of this Command, words alone cannot
adequately express my gratitude. Your discipline, resilience,
sacrifices, and tremendous support throughout my tenure remain deeply
appreciated. Together, we faced operational challenges with courage and
determination, and together, we built a Command that continued to stand
tall within the Nigeria Customs Service.”
“Today, as I hand over the mantle of leadership to Comptroller Joe
Anani, I do so with absolute confidence in his competence, experience,
and leadership capacity. I respectfully appeal to all stakeholders,
officers, partner agencies, and members of the trading community to
extend to him the same cooperation, support, and goodwill accorded to me
during my tenure. Continuity, unity, and collective support are
essential for sustaining and surpassing the achievements already
recorded by this Command.”
“As I proceed to my new responsibilities as an Assistant
Comptroller-General of Customs, I wish to assure everyone that I shall
always remain available for consultation, guidance, and support whenever
the need arises. Tincan Island Port Command will always hold a special
place in my heart, and I will continue to take pride in its progress and
accomplishments.”
“In conclusion, I give glory to Almighty God for granting us the
strength, wisdom, and grace to serve successfully. I thank every stakeholder, every officer, every partner agency, and every well-wisher
who contributed in one way or another to the successes we recorded.”
The new Tincan Command Controller, Compt. Joe Anani, is the immediate past Customs Area Controller, PTML Command.
He was the Officer in charge of Tincan Customs Valuation Unit before his elevation to the rank of Comptroller, and subsequently, was posted to take charge of PTML Command as Controller.
The Tincan Community has described Anani’s posting to the Command as “a homecoming, and they expect to see improved working relationship, mutual understanding and stronger collaborations.
