By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Tincan Island Port Command, Comptroller Joseph Anani, has unveiled a compliance-driven agenda aimed at enhancing trade facilitation, operational efficiency and stakeholder collaboration at the nation’s premier port.

Anani disclosed this during a series of engagements with freight forwarders, terminal operators, shipping companies and other stakeholders shortly after assuming office.

The new Customs boss said his administration would focus on strict compliance with Customs regulations and the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, while promoting seamless trade and improved service delivery.

“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,” he said.

As part of his assumption of duty activities, Anani inspected Customs formations and terminals within the Command to assess facilities, officers’ welfare and operational conditions.

He also held strategic meetings with major 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 industry players.

The Controller urged stakeholders to embrace professionalism and comply fully with extant Customs laws to facilitate faster cargo clearance and efficient port operations.

At a separate roundtable with terminal operators, importers, exporters and shipping companies, Anani assured operators of an open-door policy and called for improved infrastructure to boost cargo handling capacity and attract more vessel traffic to the port.

To strengthen security and inter-agency cooperation, the Customs chief paid courtesy visits to the Commissioner of Police, Port Authority Police (Western Command), CP Toyin Agbaminoja, and the Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Commander Solomon Omotosho.

The meetings focused on intelligence sharing, joint operations and strategies to curb drug trafficking and other transnational crimes within the port environment.

Anani expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his appointment and pledged to advance the Service’s mandate in line with the Customs leadership’s policy thrust of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation.