Skip to main content

Comptroller Onyeka Wins Double Honour For Revenue And Anti-Smuggling At MIMA ‎

By Anne Ejuka

‎


The Customs Area Controller of TinCan Island Port Command, Comptroller Frank Okechukwu Onyeka, last week at the just concluded Maritime Industry Marit Award (MIMA) clinched two prestigious award   as the Most Outstanding Customs Area Controller in Revenue Generation as well as the Most Outstanding Customs Area Controller in Anti-Smuggling.

‎The award was given at the 28th edition of the Maritime Industry Merit Award (MIMA), held on March 30, 2026 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, as leading Stakeholders across Nigeria's maritime sector  gathered to honour outstanding industry performance 

‎Over 4,000 votes that were cast,  Comptroller Onyeka secured more than 90% in both categories, reflecting strong industry endorsement of his leadership and performance.

‎Born on  March 13, 1968 in Lagos,  Onyeka hails from Aniocha-North LGA, Delta State,  holds a B.Sc. in Political Science from Ondo State University, Ado Ekiti and a Master’s in Public Administration.

‎Comptroller Onyeka joined the Nigeria Customs Service in 1991 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent after training at the Customs College, Ikeja. He rose through the ranks with postings at Seme Border, Jalingo, Lilypond Export Command, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, and Apapa Area Command. 

‎‎As Deputy Comptroller, he become the DC-in-Charge of Valuation Unit, at Tin Can Island Port Area Command (2020-2022). He was later redeployed to man the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) Exit Gate, at the Nigeria Customs Service Area II Command, Onne, Rivers State (2022-2023). Between (2023-2024) he was deployed to the Premier Port, Apapa Area Command, where he held sway as the Deputy Comptroller in-Charge of Apapa Port Exit Gate, a position he held until his appointment as the Acting Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Customs Command, in 2024,  a position he held for a very brief period, before  his promotion to the rank of a Comptroller of Customs and was subsequently confirmed as the substantive Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command in January 2025.


‎It is on record that Comptroller Frank Onyeka is the first to be appointed as CAC Tin Can Island Port Command with the rank  of a Deputy Comptroller (DC). This is in recognition of his outstanding contributions and pragmatic leadership style.

‎As an educator/ instructor , he has participated in many capacity building programs in the Service, which includes training of newly recruited officers at Customs  Command and Staff Colleges, and  presently  serves as the Lead Resource Person in Tin Can Island Port training and Doctrine programs.

He spearheaded the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Valuation Service, chaired the Dispute Resolution Committee at Tin Can Island Port, and facilitated revenue recovery running into trillions of naira.

‎


His anti-smuggling exploits include overseeing significant seizures across Apapa, Onne, and Tin Can Island Commands, reinforcing national economic protection.

‎Comptroller Onyeka also contributed to capacity building of officers and stakeholders, serving as instructor at Customs Command and Staff Colleges, as well as organizing a landmark training and empowerment workshop for maritime journalists in December 2025.

‎
‎Onyeka as an epitome of a true Nigerian, speaks Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages fluently is a chain awards winner. A recipient of the CGC’s Value Addition Award (2023, 2024), Gold Award for Leadership Excellence (League of Maritime Editors, 2025), and multiple recognitions for transparency, integrity and economic excellence.

‎


He is widely regarded as a “Revenue Guru” whose pragmatic leadership, dedication to service, and commitment to capacity building have set new standards in the Nigeria Customs Service. 

‎His dual recognition at MIMA 2026 underscores a rare combination of administrative efficiency and enforcement strength, reinforcing his growing influence within the maritime industry.

‎

‎

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NCS Medical Team Trains Apapa Area Command Officers On First Aid

By Anne Ejuka
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) medical team yesterday trained officers and men of the Apapa Area Command on basic first aid training. ‎ ‎The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba according to a press release issued by the public relations officer of the command, Superintendent of Customs SC JT Ayagbalo described the initiative as a crucial investment in workplace safety and operational readiness. ‎ ‎In his welcome address, Comptroller Oshoba emphasized that the programme reflects the priority placed on staff welfare by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR. ‎ ‎He described first aid knowledge as a universal life skill that every adult should possess, especially officers as they are frequently exposed to high-risk operational environments. ‎ ‎ Oshoba noted that simple but timely interventions such as; CPR, bleeding control, choking relief and stroke recognition often determine whether a victim survives, fully recov...
Post a Comment
Read more

KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN (KSJI) TAKES A SWIPE AT BAD LEADERSHIPS IN NIGERIA

By Anne Ejuka
  Maj. Gen. (Prof) Remy Uche,  KSJI Supreme Subordinate President, Nigeria. As Christians all over the world marked  the feast of the Passion of St. John the Baptist on August 29 commemoration of his beheading by King Herod for speaking up to the truth, the Knights of St. John International (KSJI) of the Roman Catholic Church has taken a swipe against which it described as obnoxious and draconian leaderships in many spheres of life in Nigeria. The Knights of St. John International (KSJI), a sodality organisation of men and women looked up to in the Roman Catholic Church as people of integrity, is not happy with the current situation in the country where leaders in some places are not serving expectedly. According to a press statement made by the KSJI leader in Nigeria (Supreme Subordinate President), Maj Gen. Remy Uche (Prof), and signed on his behalf, by his Chief of Staff, Sir Abuchi Anueyiagu, to mark the feast of the Passion of St. John the Baptist, the patron saint...
Post a Comment
Read more

NIMASA Reshuffles Management Team For Enhanced Efficiency And Inter-departmental Collaboration

By Anne Ejuka
I n an exercise aimed  at strengthening  inter-departmental collaboration and inject new energy into the system to further improve performance and enhance efficiency across the maritime sector, The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has announced a strategic redeployment of its management staff as part of efforts to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery in line with its core mandate.   Under the new structure, according to a press statement issued by Mr. Edward Osagie FNIPR,  Head, Public Relations Officer of the agency, a total of 56 management staff were affected in the exercise. Notable amongst those redeployed are; Hajia Moji Jimoh who becomes Director, Administration and Human Resources; Aishatu Jidda, Director, Planning, Research and Data Management Services; Barr. Heaky Dimowo, Director, Legal Services/Board Secretary; Isichei Osamgbi, Director, SERVICOM; and Mrs. Olubusola Obasanjo-Akande, Director, Western Zone. Othe...
Post a Comment
Read more