Reforms lift Tin Can Customs’ January revenue to N145.9b
The Nigeria Customs Service Tin Can Island Port Command recorded a N145.94 billion revenue haul in January 2026, representing a significant increase from the N116.41 billion recorded in January 2025.
- ...Command target paperless containers by Q2
The Nigeria Customs Service Tin Can Island Port Command recorded a N145.94 billion revenue haul in January 2026, representing a significant increase from the N116.41 billion recorded in January 2025.
This, the Command said, reinforces its renewed focus on trade facilitation and paperless cargo processing.
Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, who disclosed the figures during a media parley at the Command on Tuesday, in Lagos, outlined a reform agenda centred on efficiency, transparency, and a deliberate shift away from revenue maximisation at the expense of trade.
“As of the end of January last year, we recorded about N116,412,735,766.23. By the end of January this year, we closed at N145,936,925,949.12. That difference clearly shows that the reforms we are putting in place are yielding results,” Onyeka said.
The CAC noted that the January performance reflects improved compliance, better engagement with stakeholders, and more streamlined processes at the port.
“We are beginning to see the impact of collaboration and structured engagement with stakeholders. When people understand the system and trust it, compliance improves,” he said.
Looking ahead, Onyeka stressed that 2026 will be defined by trade facilitation, insisting that his leadership must be identified with easing port operations rather than creating bottlenecks.
“This year, we are going to be known as a trade enabler—to facilitate trade and make it easier for the trading public,” he said.
“My mandate for this year is to be referred to as a trade enabler. I need to be known as a trade enabler personified,” he added.
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He explained that this philosophy would guide both operational decisions and the conduct of officers at the command.
A major pillar of the Command’s reform drive, Onyeka said, is the planned transition to paperless container processing, expected to commence by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
“By the end of the second quarter, we should begin processing containers paperless, without seeing anybody,” Onyeka announced.
While acknowledging existing challenges such as network reliability and system integration, the CAC expressed confidence that training, automation, and stakeholder cooperation would ensure a smooth rollout.
“We cannot have a perfect system overnight. There will be glitches, but once declarations are properly done, the process will be seamless,” he said.
Onyeka also emphasised that the Command would prioritise collectible revenue over maximum revenue, arguing that sustainable trade depends on keeping businesses viable.
“I am harping on collectable revenue instead of maximum revenue. Maximum revenue can choke the trader. Collectable revenue allows him to pay government, make profit, return to the market, and sustain jobs,” he explained.
He said the approach aligns with broader national economic objectives and the Service’s mandate to support legitimate trade.
The CAC further commended the media for what he described as responsible and intelligence-driven reportage, noting that feedback from journalists and stakeholders has helped the Command respond swiftly to operational challenges.
“Your feedback has assisted me greatly. Many of the decisions we took were based on information and intelligence shared by stakeholders and the media,” he said.
With a strong revenue showing in January 2026, a clear commitment to paperless, zero-contact clearance, and a leadership focus on trade enablement and collectible revenue, Onyeka assured that the Command is positioning itself as a key driver of ongoing port reforms as well as the country’s ease-of-doing-business agenda.
