In a renewed effort to strengthen its human capital and ensure seamless trade facilitation, the Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has successfully concluded a comprehensive week-long in-house training programme designed to enhance the professional competence and operational readiness of its senior officers.
The capacity-building exercise, which ran from Monday, October 13 to Friday, October 17, 2025, was held at the Command’s headquarters in Apapa, Lagos. It brought together officers from different departments and units to deepen their understanding of core customs procedures, risk management, valuation techniques, and compliance strategies that drive modern port operations.
Speaking during the opening session, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Frank Onyeka, stressed that the NCS remains committed to continuous learning and innovation as key enablers of efficiency and accountability in port operations.
“This training is not just a routine exercise but an investment in the growth and development of our personnel,” Comptroller Onyeka stated. “As the business environment evolves, we must continually sharpen our skills, improve our understanding of trade processes, and embrace global best practices. That is how we sustain public trust and deliver on our mandate.”
He urged officers to put into practical use the knowledge acquired during the sessions, adding that the Command’s leadership is determined to make capacity development a regular and strategic part of its operational culture.
Comptroller Onyeka further revealed that while the just-concluded training focused on senior officers, arrangements are already underway to organize a similar programme for junior officers, ensuring that the entire workforce benefits from the initiative.
“No cadre will be left behind,” he emphasized. “The goal is to build a competent and motivated team capable of addressing emerging challenges in international trade and border management.”
The in-house training featured resource persons drawn from within the Command, demonstrating the wealth of expertise and institutional knowledge within the NCS. Key thematic areas covered during the sessions included:
- Physical Examination of Cargo – facilitated by Comptroller Onyeka himself,
- Reputation Management,
- Risk Management and Documentary Checks,
- Evidence Exploitation,
- Customs Procedure Codes and Classification,
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Valuation,
- Customs Valuation,
- Code of Conduct and Ethics, and
- Customs Administration and Enforcement Strategies.
Participants described the training as both impactful and practical, noting that it had significantly improved their understanding of current customs procedures and equipped them with modern tools for effective service delivery.
One of the attendees, Assistant Controller Rose Bonat of the Transire Unit, applauded the Command for initiating what she described as a “laudable and forward-thinking step towards institutional excellence.”
“This training has broadened my operational knowledge and boosted my confidence,” she said. “The sessions were detailed, interactive, and directly relevant to our daily duties. I commend the leadership of the Command for its commitment to professional development.”
Closing the session, Comptroller Onyeka reaffirmed the Command’s dedication to nurturing a skilled, disciplined, and proactive workforce capable of upholding the values of integrity, service, and transparency. He expressed optimism that the lessons from the training would reflect positively on the Command’s performance metrics, cargo clearance timelines, and overall trade facilitation outcomes.
“At Tincan Island Port Command, we are not just building officers; we are building institutions,” Onyeka concluded. “This is how we contribute to the Nigeria Customs Service vision of being a modern, efficient, and technology-driven organization serving as a model for other agencies.”
With the successful completion of this capacity-building initiative, the Tincan Island Port Command continues to set a benchmark for professional excellence, aligning its workforce development agenda with the broader goals of the Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of the Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR.
The Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service concludes an intensive week-long in-house training for senior officers to boost efficiency, professionalism, and modern customs operations under Comptroller Frank Onyeka’s leadership.
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