The Customs Area Controller of the Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Frank Onyeka, has called for stronger collaboration with the media as the command prepares to transition to paperless operations in the second quarter of 2026.
Onyeka made the appeal during a media engagement at the command’s headquarters in Lagos, where he highlighted 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 aimed at modernising port operations and strengthening trade facilitation.
According to him, the OSS marks a shift from fragmented documentation processes to a coordinated digital governance structure that reduces bureaucracy and improves cargo clearance timelines.
He explained that the platform centralises all risk management interventions at the Area Command level through the Query and Amendment (Q&A) process, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
The controller noted that the system harmonises the 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 observed that port delays are often caused not by inspection procedures but by disjointed documentation processes and system inefficiencies, which the OSS is designed to address.
He stressed that accurate declaration of goods would significantly reduce delays, adding that paperless processing would eliminate cases of unattended files.
Importers and agents were advised to ensure proper classification and palletisation of consignments, warning that scanners would automatically flag improperly declared goods for physical examination.
Onyeka reassured stakeholders that the command’s scanning machines are fully operational and that trained officers are prepared to handle any network disruptions without affecting clearance timelines.
He disclosed that the Tincan Command generated N145 billion in revenue in January 2026, surpassing the N116 billion recorded in January 2025.
The N29.9 billion increase, he said, 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 once the OSS is fully implemented, positioning the command as a trade enabler rather than merely a revenue-collecting agency.
He added that the command would prioritise optimising collectible revenue over aggressive revenue drives, to balance compliance enforcement with business competitiveness.
Onyeka reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to continuous stakeholder engagement and expressed confidence that sustained media support and digital integration would significantly enhance efficiency, transparency and Nigeria’s ease of doing business ranking.