Onyeka: Boosting Revenue of The Federation Through Trade Facilitation
By Ovie Edomi
Hate or love the wisps of cloud floated like sails in the sky and the gentle breeze at the Tin Can Area, Lagos, one can not but marvel as one enters the office of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Okechukwu Onyeka, whose second name is uncommon trade facilitation Master. His infectious smile and humility make one to wonder if he is indeed the same officer giving fraudulent bonded terminal operators and importers tough time. Indeed, when he resumed last year as Customs Area Controller, Onyeka, had a clear idea of what to do. Like his predecessor fought the bonded terminal operators to a stand still, he too continues to give fraudulent bonded terminal operators and importers a run for their money.
Seemingly too, he recently achieved one of the highest revenue generation ever recorded in a single day in the history of Customs revenue generation across the country. Though in many instances, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Tin Can Island Command, has set new revenue records but the record of on Tuesday, 19 August 2025, where Tin Can Customs Area Command raked in N16.4 billion in a single day through its newly deployed digital system, B’Odogwu, represents the highest daily revenue collection in the history of the Command remains extremely remarkable. Earlier, the revenue for the first half of this year for the command was put at the sum of N747,079,233,259.91.
As Customs officials celebrate this milestone, stakeholders who watch event closely at the Tincan Island Port say Comptroller Frank Onyeka has all it takes to sustain his record-breaking collections.
Speaking on the development, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, Customs Area Controller of Tincan Island Port, commended the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), popularly known as B’Odogwu, for streamlining operations and eliminating long-standing inefficiencies. He says beyond the numbers, the achievement underscores how technology can deliver transparency, speed, and accountability at the ports.
According to Customs Area Controller of Tincan Island Port, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, the record haul also reflects the Command’s continued collaboration with critical stakeholders, including terminal operators, shipping companies, Customs agents, and regulatory agencies.This synergy, he noted, is vital in making cargo clearance more seamless, compliant, and business-friendly.
With the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) opening up new trade opportunities across the continent, Onyeka who is popularly known as uncommon Trade facilitation master emphasized that modern systems like B’Odogwu will play a critical role in positioning Nigeria as a competitive hub for maritime commerce. Furthermore, he averred that Tin Can Command, remains committed to balancing revenue generation with trade facilitation, ensuring that businesses can clear goods on time while government secures funds for national development.
It would be recalled that Onyeka emphasized at a parley with Maritime Editors, that “his job is specifically aimed at ensuring trade facilitation at the sea ports, promoting and encouraging quick turnover for the importers as well as generating revenue for the country.”.
He also noted that the economic wellbeing of all Nigerians is considered in all their operations, in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu as handed over to Customs area Controllers across the country by the CGC of Customs, Wale Adeniyi.
Last year the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated a total revenue of N6.1 trillion in 2024, marking a historic milestone and a significant increase from the N3.2 trillion collected in 2023.
Though the Controller of Tin Can Customs Area Command urged importers and other stakeholders to leverage on the relationship the Command has established with them to foster an enabling environment for business to thrive, he insisted that the Command has also created awareness on the need to keep to the rules. This perhaps explains why there has been upsurge in revenue generation and no more business as usual for fraudulent bonded terminal operators and importers.