The Nigeria Customs Service bids farewell to one of its finest as Assistant Comptroller-General Frank Onyeka formally hands over leadership of the Tin Can Island Port Command following his elevation to the rank of ACG.

In a dignified handover ceremony held on Friday, May 22, 2026, at the Tin Can Island Port Command in Lagos, Onyeka described his tenure as one of the most rewarding chapters of his career in the Nigeria Customs Service.

A Stellar Performance in Revenue Generation
The numbers speak volumes. Under his leadership, the Command generated a staggering ₦1.609 trillion in revenue in the 2025 fiscal year, surpassing its target of ₦1.524 trillion by a significant margin. The momentum carried into 2026, with ₦401.01 billion recorded in the first quarter alone — signalling strong, sustained growth.

Onyeka attributed this remarkable performance to a combination of discipline, intelligence-led operations, enhanced compliance strategies, stakeholder collaboration, and the strategic deployment of modern trade facilitation tools that carefully balanced enforcement with the promotion of legitimate commerce.

Striking a Blow Against Smuggling
The outgoing Controller not only excel at revenue collection. Under his watch, the Command recorded breakthroughs in anti-smuggling operations, intercepting illicit drugs and prohibited items with a combined street value exceeding ₦35 billion. These seizures, he noted, underscore the Service’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security and dismantling transnational organised crime networks.

Strengthening Stakeholder Relations
Onyeka placed a premium on collaboration. Throughout his tenure, the Command engaged extensively with freight forwarders, terminal operators, shipping companies, importers, exporters, and other stakeholders in the port community. The result: improved operational efficiency, faster dispute resolution, and higher compliance levels across the port system.

Investing in People
Human capital development also took centre stage. The Command invested substantially in training programmes, workshops, and professional development initiatives aimed at sharpening the competence and boosting the morale of its officers. Onyeka also acknowledged the vital role of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), whose humanitarian and family-support programmes enhanced the welfare of officers and their families.

A Heartfelt Farewell
Onyeka expressed deep gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his visionary leadership and unwavering support. He also lauded the management team, officers, and men of the Command, emphasising that every achievement was the product of collective effort and shared dedication.

Handing over the reins to Comptroller Joe Anani, Onyeka urged stakeholders and officers to extend the same cooperation and support to the incoming leadership, ensuring continuity and even greater accomplishments ahead.

“Tin Can Island Port Command will always remain close to my heart,” Onyeka affirmed. “I remain available for guidance and support whenever needed.”

As he steps into his new responsibilities as Assistant Comptroller-General, Onyeka leaves behind not just a legacy of record-breaking performance but a standard of leadership that will inspire the next chapter of the Nigeria Customs Service.