Tin-Can Port Customs New Boss, Anani, Sets Compliance-Driven Agenda

BY FUNMI ALUKO

In a decisive start to his tenure, Comptroller Joseph Anani, the newly appointed Customs Area Controller of the Tincan Island Port Command, has rolled out a robust agenda focused on compliance, operational efficiency, and strategic partnerships. His early days at the helm have been marked by inspections, stakeholder engagements, and inter-agency collaborations designed to reposition the Command as a model of trade facilitation and integrity.

Familiarisation and Operational Oversight

Comptroller Anani began his stewardship with an extensive tour of Customs formations and terminals within the Command. The inspection provided him with first-hand insight into officers’ working conditions, available facilities, and the overall operational environment. His emphasis was clear: improving workplace standards to ensure officers are well-equipped to deliver on the Nigeria Customs Service’s mandate.

Stakeholder Engagements

In his maiden strategic meeting, Anani convened representatives of major freight forwarding associations, including ANLCA, NAGAFF, NCMDLCA, and APFLON. He underscored the importance of compliance, professionalism, and partnership in achieving seamless trade operations.

“We are setting a new tone anchored on compliance, collaboration, and service excellence. Every stakeholder has a role to play in making Tincan Island Port a model of trade facilitation and operational efficiency,” Anani declared.

Compliance Blueprint

Anchoring his vision on the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, Anani outlined a blueprint that demands strict adherence to Customs procedures and extant laws. He warned against indiscipline and misconduct, stressing that integrity must remain the hallmark of port operations.

Infrastructure and Competitiveness

At a roundtable with terminal operators, shipping companies, importers, and exporters, Anani urged improvements in port infrastructure. He called for expanded operational spaces to attract more vessel traffic, thereby enhancing competitiveness and efficiency at Nigeria’s premier port.

Security and Inter-Agency Synergy

Recognizing the nexus between trade facilitation and national security, Anani has paid courtesy visits to key security agencies, namely:

Port Authority Police Commissioner Toyin Agbaminoja, where discussions centered on intelligence sharing and operational collaboration to safeguard port activities. At the NDLEA, Commander Solomon Omotosho joined Anani in strategizing against illicit trade and drug trafficking. Both agencies pledged sustained synergy through intelligence-driven operations and coordinated enforcement.

Policy Alignment

Comptroller Anani expressed gratitude to Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for the confidence reposed in him. He pledged to consolidate existing achievements while advancing the Service’s policy thrust of Consolidation, Collaboration, and Innovation — principles he believes will drive trade facilitation, revenue generation, and national security.

Comptroller Anani’s opening moves signal a leadership style rooted in discipline, inclusivity, and forward-looking reforms. His agenda sets the stage for Tin-Can Island Port to become not just a hub of commerce, but a benchmark for compliance and collaborative governance in Nigeria’s maritime sector.