Onyeka seeks media backing as Tincan Customs targets paperless trade in Q2

The Customs Area Controller of Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Frank Onyeka, has called for stronger media collaboration as the command prepares to transition to paperless operations in the second quarter of 2026.

Onyeka made the appeal during a media engagement held at the command’s headquarters in Lagos, where he outlined the operational and economic benefits of the new One-Stop-Shop (OSS) platform.

He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for unveiling the OSS initiative on Feb. 13, describing it as a strategic reform designed to modernise port operations and strengthen trade facilitation.

According to Onyeka, the OSS represents a shift from fragmented documentation procedures to a coordinated digital governance structure that reduces bureaucracy and improves cargo clearance timelines.

He explained that the digital platform centralised all risk management interventions at the Area Command level through the Query and Amendment (Q&A) process, ensuring transparency and accountability.

The controller noted that the system harmonised operations of the Customs Processing Unit, Valuation Unit and Customs Intelligence Unit within a unified physical and digital framework supported by checkbox and flagging mechanisms.

Onyeka said port delays were often caused not by inspection procedures but by disjointed documentation processes and system inefficiencies, which the OSS was specifically designed to address.

He emphasised that proper declaration of goods would significantly minimise delays, adding that paperless processing would prevent files from being left unattended.

The Customs boss advised importers and agents to ensure accurate classification and proper palletisation of consignments, warning that scanners would immediately flag improperly declared goods for physical examination.

He reassured stakeholders that the command’s scanning machines were fully operational and that trained officers were on standby to manage potential network disruptions without affecting clearance timelines.

Onyeka disclosed that the Tincan Command generated N145 billion in revenue in January 2026, surpassing the N116 billion collected in January 2025.

He said the N29.9 billion increase reflects improved compliance, enhanced monitoring and the impact of ongoing digital reforms within the Service.

The controller projected that cargo throughput at the port would likely double upon full implementation of the OSS, positioning the command as a trade enabler rather than merely a revenue-collecting agency.

He added that the command would prioritise collectible revenue optimisation over aggressive revenue drive, in order to strike a balance between compliance enforcement and business competitiveness.

Onyeka reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to continuous stakeholder engagement.

He expressed confidence that with media support and sustained digital integration, the paperless initiative would significantly boost efficiency, transparency and Nigeria’s ease of doing business ranking.