Tincan Customs Buoys Trade Facilitation, As Compliance Level By Importers, Agents Increase
By Abimbola Abdullahi
The Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has enhanced trade facilitation at the nation’s gateway as the compliance level by importers and clearing agents increases.
Controller of the Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka said that the full implementation of the B’Odogwu system at the command will further bolster trade and reduce cargo clearance period to about two hours.
Onyeka, who disclosed this during a courtesy visit by members of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN), in Lagos, said the new technology is network glitch-free, hence would ease the difficulties in cargo clearance and facilitate trade.
He urged importers and clearing agents to always make honest declarations.
He said: “Under normal circumstances, When B’Odogwu comes to TinCan and you declare appropriately, you can move your goods in two hours. I can’t tell you categorically. Because B’Odogwu is ours. B’Odogwu is fresh. B’Odogwu is network glitch-free”.
He said the command is already engaging in massive sensitisation of stakeholders and training of appropriate personnel.
“ If you were here yesterday morning and the day before yesterday, we were here training people. We are now doing training, we trained ourselves, we trained clearing agents, we trained importers.
“As of yesterday afternoon, we were talking to shipping companies and shipping lines. We discovered that the problem we are having is lack of knowledge. People are yet to key in strict sense into the B’Odogwu platform and that is a major problem.
“So sensitization is ongoing, and we believe that once we are able to spread that good news, we will get more people on board.
“So we did a practical exam here for them to know the right buttons to press, how to dot the I’s and cross the T’s. Obviously for things that are starting, it is not automatic. We are bound to have challenges, and those challenges are what we are trying to see as much as possible to de-emphasize when we take off fully.
“I must tell you, Customs is ready. But the problem we are having now is that agents are changing from what you consider to be the norm, to be something that is about to be perfect, and it will take a while. So we are there sensitizing them and we are getting good news. They are keying into it.”
Meanwhile, Onyeka said the command generated an impressive N145 billion in revenue in the month of April 2025, a significant increase from the N95.7 billion collected during the same period in April 2024.
He added that the command has already generated N27 billion in revenue for May 2025.
He enjoined the importers and clearing agents to always make appropriate declarations in order to aid trade facilitation at the seaports.
“One of the things we have told them, like we keep telling them, is to declare appropriately. If declarations are appropriate, if there are no lies about declarations, if there is no falsehood about it, everything moves seamlessly.
“I came on board and told them this. Declare appropriately. If you are carrying a telephone on your bill, upon examination, I want to see the telephone, and you paid appropriately, you don’t need to waste time. Where we have time wasted, where we have issues, is lack of proper declaration. Now imagine some of the time you have papers, and upon examination I find generators”.
The Customs Comptroller however said the level of compliance at TinCan port is increasing drastically.
“And that is why we are not having many seizures, because they are not coming our way,” he added.
Sounding a note of warning to the importers and agent, Onyeka said: “I have a pedigree for no nonsense. There are certain things that I’m well above of. I’ll tell you, I’m not a businessman. I’m not an importer. I’m not a clearing agent. I’m a Customs officer. And for those who have heard, the records are there. I will not support you if you are involved in shady deals.
“So, my body language will tell you certain things should not come my way. And I’ll tell them, don’t bring it to TinCan port.
“Because, as far as I am concerned , there is nothing like an abandoned seizure. I will seize it. I will prosecute you, and I will put you to a logical conclusion.” He said.
He said the Customs has made the system so seamless and easy for the clearing agents, saying; “There are no more multiple alerts. There are no more cases of unduly picking containers, taking to enforcement, and making things difficult for people. That much I’ve been able to achieve. So, if this platform is available for you, then why go into nefarious activity?”
He commended the media for supporting the growth of the Nigerian Customs and the entire marine and blue economy sector, urging them to continue to play their constitutional role of societal watchdog with diligence and patriotism.
Speaking earlier, the President of SCAN, Moses Ebosele who led the delegation commended the CAC for his open door policy, adding that members of SCAN are guided by the ethics of the profession.
