Onyeka assumes leadership at Tin Can Command, pledges to improve on Nnadi’s achievements

Deputy Comptroller Frank Onyeka, has taken over the reins of leadership at the Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, with a pledge to build and improve on the legacies and achievements of his predecessor, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Dera Nnadi.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony at the command in Lagos on Friday, Onyeka commended the significant strides achieved by ACG Nnadi in revenue generation, anti-smuggling, and the command’s transformation.

He solicited the support and collaboration of stakeholders, particularly the media to enable him succeed and justify the confidence repose on him by the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

He said, “I’m stepping into a big shoe considering the personality of the outgoing controller.

“ACG Nnadi couldn’t have achieved all this without the support of dedicated stakeholders and more importantly the media. The media has been very supportive of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Tin Can command in particular, so I crave for more in my statutory obligations and responsibilities as you have done to my boss to justify the confidence repose on me by the CGC.

“I shall be leveraging on the gains and achievements of the outgoing Controller. In every way possible, I will try my best, with your support of course, to improve the legacies he is leaving behind.

Onyeka while expressing his appreciation to the Comptroller General of Customs and his management team for the opportunity to serve at the command, promised to adhere to the three policy thrusts of the CGC on Consultation, Consolidation and Innovation.

He also emphasized the need for all-inclusivity, urging officers to uphold professionalism, discipline, and core values while adhering to the recently enacted Customs Act.

“It is therefore my resolve to work in sync and in tandem with those policy thusts, for us to create a reciprocal balance of equity and trade value chain.I shall strive to ensure facilitation of legitimate trade.

“We are going to be guided by the principle of all- inclusivity because we cannot afford to operate in siilos.

Onyeka also extended his appreciation to security agencies for their collaboration and synergy, seeking enhanced cooperation to achieve the command’s goals.

Earlier, in his valedictory speech, ACG Nnad while highlighting the successes attained by the command under his leadership announced that a total of N1. 26trillion was collected as revenue within year 2024, representing about 86.8% of the command’s target of N1.4 trillion.

“This marks a significant improvement from the N716.478billion that we generated previously in 2023. Why this revenue excites is because it is coming at a time when cargo throughput dropped significantly, not just in Nigeria but all over the world following the global economic situation, ” he said.

On enforcement and anti smuggling, Nnadi said the command seized goods with a DPV value of N4. 5 trillion as against N1. 5 trillion DPV value for seizures in 2023.

He attributed the revenue feat and other successes achieved by the command to the unwavering support of stakeholders and dedicated officers, urging the officers and stakeholders to give same support to the new CAC.

Nnadi expressed optimism that given the wealth of experience of his successor, the command will continue to thrive and uphold the achievements recorded.