The Customs Area Controller of the Tincan Island Port Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka has said that the Maritime Journalists Training Workshop organised by the Command is designed to promote stakeholder partnership, encourage inclusivity, and foster knowledge sharing between the Nigeria Customs Service and the media.
Declaring the workshop open, Comptroller Onyeka said the training was coming at a critical period in the ongoing transformation of the Nigeria Customs Service, as it intensifies reforms to enhance trade facilitation, stakeholder engagement and operational efficiency.
The workshop, themed “Compliance, Collaboration and Modernization: Aligning the Nigeria Customs Service with Global Best Practices,” brought together maritime journalists, Customs officers and resource persons to deepen understanding of Customs operations and the evolving role of the Service in national economic development and security.
Onyeka described the media, particularly maritime journalists, as strategic partners in the reform process, noting that accurate information dissemination, public enlightenment and accountability are essential to the success of Customs modernization efforts.
He said the training was designed to promote stakeholder partnership, encourage inclusivity and foster knowledge sharing between the NCS and the media, adding that an informed press remains a powerful ally in nation-building.
According to him, participants would be exposed to Customs operations, compliance requirements, trade facilitation processes and modernization initiatives, while also addressing misconceptions and bridging knowledge gaps through constructive engagement.
The Customs Area Controller further disclosed that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, places high priority on stakeholder collaboration, stressing that effective service delivery can only be achieved through shared responsibility among the Service, the media, private sector operators and other government agencies.
“We deliberate on compliance, collaboration, and modernization, let us remember that our collective goal is to align the Nigeria Customs Service with global best practices while promoting National Economic Growth and National Security. In the process of this workshop, you will have one of your own who will talk extensively on reclaiming professional values and ethics in your trade.”
The training coordinator, Mr. Innocent Orok, said the programme reflected the sustained commitment of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to equipping journalists with the requisite knowledge to report accurately on the evolving operations of the Service.
Orok recalled that the first batch of the training was held on November 1, 2024, under the leadership of then Area Controller, now Deputy Comptroller-General, Dera Nnadi. He explained that although the initial workshop could not accommodate all interested participants, a promise was made to organise a second batch, which has now been fulfilled.
He attributed the successful hosting of the second batch to the support of the Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island Port Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, describing his approval of the programme as swift and unprecedented despite prevailing economic challenges. According to Orok, Comptroller Onyeka not only endorsed the training but also facilitated the provision of electronic devices to enhance participants’ professional efficiency.
Providing background to the initiative, Orok said the training concept was born out of concerns over inaccurate maritime reporting, following a 2024 publication that, according to stakeholders, overlooked longstanding customs trade facilitation tools such as the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), NICIS, Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) scheme and the B’Odogwu platform. He noted that this highlighted the need for structured engagement and capacity building for journalists covering the maritime sector.
Orok commended the resource persons and facilitators for their contributions, as well as the Command’s Public Relations Officer and team for ensuring the success of the workshop.
Addressing participants, he described the training as a knowledge-driven initiative aimed at improving professional competence rather than financial gain, urging journalists to maximise the opportunity to enhance their careers. He disclosed that participants would be equipped with modern electronic gadgets to support effective reportage.
With the completion of the second batch, Orok said nearly 100 maritime journalists have benefited from the initiative so far, adding that the Nigeria Customs Service plans to sustain the programme in the future.
He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, the management of the Tin Can Island Port Command and all stakeholders who contributed to the success of the workshop, while wishing participants a productive training session.
“You have all been selected based on your capacity to add value by informing, educating and entertaining with the right and accurate information. At the end of the workshop you all will be equipped with one of the latest electronic gadget to do your work efficiently and effectively. This is another history in the making, prepare to stay focus and acquire the needed knowledge to excel.’
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