Onyeka: The Uncommon Trade facilitation Master Generates N747 Billion Mid Year
By Ovie Edomi
The Area Controller of Tin Can Customs Command, Comptroller Frank Okechukwu Onyeka, was in high spirit when he parleyed with members of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers (LOME) recently. He told the Editors and Publishers that the Comptroller General of Customs, Wale Adeniyi, gave him the wings to fly and he quickly gathered a team of Customs Officers with whom to sour high beginning from December 20th 2024 that he took over. Seven months of being on the saddle, the Controller of one of the busiest nation’s Customs Commands says it has been both challenging and rewarding.
Indeed, Frank Okechukwu Onyeka may be giving fraudulent bonded terminal Operators tough time, he is no doubt an uncommon trade facilitation Master. Despite ensuring that it is not business as usual for bonded terminal Operators, just like his predecessor fought the bonded terminal Operators to a stand still, he is giving fraudulent bonded terminal Operators a tough time.
Meanwhile, Comptroller Frank Okechukwu Onyeka told the Editors that one of the secrets of his ability to sour high was his consistent engagement of stakeholders, collaboration with other agencies of government and reconciliation efforts.
According to him ” I have a very supportive team. Sometimes, we work till very late in the night to tackle issues in the interest of the Nation ”
Furhermore, he explained that “this 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 their operation, 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
True to the Tin Can Port Customs Area Controller’s zero tolerance for concealment and false declaration of imported goods, the Comptroller of the Command, Frank Onyeka, disclosed that the Tin Can port Customs area Command collected the sum of N747,079,233,259.91 as revenue for the first half of this year.He assured the Editors that the Command will meet the N1.5trn target for the Year 2025.
He however urged importers to always declare the exact things in their containers to aviod seizure because of default, hence he told importers to keep to the rules of the game, assuring that those who are compliant to the trade rules are not choked in any way. The Controller, equally noted that once containers are opened for examination, and there is compliance, clearance of such goods are not delayed.He equally noted that the Command has addressed the issue of multiple alerts which many had complained about in the past..According to him, the Command spends time to create awareness on the need to keep to the rules. He also 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.
Comptroller Frank Okechukwu Onyeka while further commending the Comptroller General of Customs, Wale Adeniyi noted that B’Odogwu is a game changer in ports operations. He explained that “part of the measures put in place by the Customs of Tin Can Area Command is to introduce ‘policy of collectable revenue instead of maximum revenue”.
The roundtable parley with members of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers may have come and gone one thing is certain, Comptroller Onyeka has shown that Tin Can Customs Area Command under his watch has advanced policies in line with the Wale Adeniyi-led Nigeria Customs Service to put Tin Can area Command among Customs Area Commands that are on the giant stride.