Comptroller Anani Unveils Reform Agenda, Prioritises Compliance, Trade Facilitation and Strategic Partnerships at Tin Can Port

The newly appointed Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Tin Can Island Port Command, Comptroller Joseph Anani, has commenced his tenure with a series of strategic engagements, inspections, and high-level courtesy visits aimed at strengthening operational efficiency, enhancing stakeholder confidence, and deepening inter-agency collaboration.
As part of his familiarisation tour, Comptroller Anani embarked on an extensive inspection of Customs formations and terminals under the Command. The exercise provided him with first-hand insight into existing facilities, officers’ working conditions, and the overall operational landscape of the port. The visit, which marked one of his first official assignments, was designed to identify areas for improvement and ensure personnel are adequately equipped to deliver on the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
In his maiden engagement with industry stakeholders, the Customs Area Controller met with leading freight forwarding associations, including the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), APFLON, and other key players in the maritime sector.
During the meeting, Comptroller Anani stressed the importance of compliance, professionalism, and collaboration in achieving seamless port operations and facilitating legitimate trade. He reaffirmed his commitment to enforcing all Customs regulations and extant laws, particularly the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, while warning against misconduct and practices capable of undermining the integrity of the Service.
“We are setting a new tone anchored on compliance, collaboration, and service excellence. Every stakeholder has a role to play in making Tin Can Island Port a model of trade facilitation and operational efficiency,” he stated.
The Controller also convened a roundtable session with terminal operators, shipping companies, importers, exporters, and captains of industry to discuss strategies for improving operational performance and boosting trade competitiveness. He assured stakeholders of an open-door policy and pledged to foster an enabling environment that supports legitimate business activities and economic growth.
As part of efforts to improve port efficiency, he urged terminal operators to upgrade infrastructure and expand operational spaces within their facilities to attract increased vessel traffic and enhance service delivery.
Recognising the critical role of inter-agency cooperation in securing the nation’s gateways, Comptroller Anani paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Port Authority Police (Western Command), CP Toyin Agbaminoja. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration on security, intelligence sharing, and the protection of lives and property within the port environment.
In a similar move, the Customs boss visited the Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Commander Solomon Omotosho, where discussions focused on intensifying efforts against drug trafficking and other transnational crimes. The two agencies agreed to sustain intelligence-driven operations, information sharing, and coordinated enforcement actions to prevent illicit narcotics from passing through the nation’s seaports.
Comptroller Anani expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the confidence reposed in him through his appointment as Customs Area Controller of the Tin Can Island Port Command. He pledged to build on the achievements of his predecessors while advancing the core mandates of the Service.
He further noted that the Command would continue to align its operations with the policy direction of the Comptroller-General, anchored on the pillars of Consolidation, Collaboration, and Innovation, to drive trade facilitation, revenue generation, stakeholder engagement, and national security.