The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on Tuesday commissioned the renovated Tin-Can Island Port Customs Command administrative building and two new facilities.
CGC Adeniyi presided over the historic commissioning on Tuesday at the Tin-Can Island Port Command of the NCS, even as he described the new look of the command as an award-winning project that will be celebrated at the NCS 2024 end-of-year awards.
Speaking during the commissioning of the newly renovated building, Adeniyi praised Comptroller Dera Nnadi and his management team for their dedication to transforming the command’s infrastructure. He urged other Area Controllers to emulate Nnadi’s initiative by engaging stakeholders to drive impactful projects.
He said, “I want to commend Comptroller Dera Nnadi and all his men for the initiative of getting this done. When he told me about it, I never knew it was such a gigantic project. This is an award-winning project. The award for the Nigeria Customs Service in 2024 which was supposed to have taken place two weeks ago, will now take place in two days’ time, and as Comptroller General of Customs, we will not forget this project,” CGC Adeniyi said.
He emphasised the importance of collaboration in modernising customs operations, adding that the project symbolizes the strength of partnerships within the industry.
“I made it very clear on assumption of duty that one of my policy thrusts would be collaboration. I’ve discovered that there is strength in complementing what we do and what we can do for each other.
“All of us bring different attributes to the table, and in a modern organisation, we tap into the strength of each and every one of us. We ensure that we reduce duplication and optimise the resources we can get for maximum objectives.
“We have seen this work out in several ways in the last one year. Our revenue generation is nothing but the product of deliberate collaboration with all our stakeholders. When we get intelligence about things that threaten our security, it is a product of collaboration. I am very, very happy that our officers in all the commands — it’s the same story I hear in Apapa, in PTML, in Airports, in Lekki — that we have created an environment that allows us to collaborate and work more effectively with other agencies of government.
“I am indeed very delighted about this. What we are seeing today is also the product of collaboration. Our stakeholders are now stepping forward to say they can help us improve the quality of our workplace. I am indeed very, very happy that what we have is a demonstration that collaboration pays.
“I acknowledge all of you, stakeholders, who have contributed to delivering this project. We are very happy with you and will continue to extend the frontiers of collaboration, not only in these kinds of spheres, but also to deepen them in our operations to ensure that we deliver better service to our country.
“There are so many potentials for collaboration. Between us, Customs, and other agencies of government. The government is working on a single window to bring all of us into an automated platform that will allow regulatory oversight and operational generalisation to be done in a very fast and efficient manner.
“To all other stakeholders — customs agents, terminal operators, shipping companies, all of us — the more we work together, the easier and more efficient we are going to be. So I, therefore, thank most sincerely all of you that have made this possible.”
The Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island Port, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, said the renovation goes beyond mere aesthetics or upgrading physical infrastructure; describing the development as a clear statement of intent that reinforces the CGC’s policy focus on collaboration, consolidation, and innovation.
Nnadi stressed that a well-maintained office complex ensures that officers continue to provide exceptional service and achieve greater results in their core functions of revenue generation and trade facilitation.
“As we celebrate the unveiling of this renovated facility, we must recognize the historical context of this transformation. Since the inception of this Command in 1977, no major renovation has been undertaken to update and modernize the office complex.
“For decades, our officers have worked diligently within the confines of outdated infrastructure, and today, we witness a transformation that will no longer be just a reflection of the past, but a symbol of the future – a future that is modern, efficient, and committed to service excellence. It is important to note that our work here at Tin Can Island Port goes beyond infrastructure, we are deeply committed to the economic growth of Nigeria,” he said.
Comptroller Nnadi revealed that Tin Can Island Command achieved a revenue milestone in 2024, generating over ₦1.125 trillion for the first time in its history.
This represents a significant increase from the ₦639.7 billion collected as of November 2023.
“This remarkable feat highlights the dedication of our officers and the collaborative efforts with stakeholders. It reaffirms our commitment to maximizing revenue collection for national growth,” he said.
He also outlined the command’s progress in combating smuggling, with notable seizures of arms, unregulated pharmaceuticals, and other prohibited goods. These efforts, he said, underscore the command’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
Meanwhile, the first Substantive Administrator of the Command, Comptroller James Brigue (rtd) who led the command between 1982 and 1984 was honoured by the CGC.
The 96-year old, Brigue, recounted his Customs service years joyfully even as he disclosed that he left the NCS in 1986 to serve as a cleric in Foursquare Church.
The event was attended by customs officials, including Area Controller of Apapa Command, Babatunde Olomu, industry stakeholders including Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) represented by its National Vice President, Prince Segun Oduntan and representatives from partner organizations, all celebrating the transformation and renewed focus on service delivery at Tin Can Island Port.