ANLCA Chairman, Prince Wale Cole Applauds Tin Can Customs Controller Onyeka for Streamlined Cargo Clearance

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Prince Wale Cole, the newly elected Chairman of the Tin Can Island chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), has commended Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, for his efforts in streamlining cargo clearance at the Tin Can Island Port.

In an exclusive chat with DAILY TREND recently, Cole specifically highlighted Onyeka’s recent actions, such as curbing unnecessary alerts and cargo stoppages by customs officers, which have contributed to a more seamless clearance process.

“I want to commend Compt Onyeka. With what I have seen so far, he has made clearance of cargo at Tin Can Port more seamless,” Cole stated.

“There are steps he has taken recently, like blocking of alerts and unnecessary stopping of cargoes by some of his men. He might not have total power on other sister agencies, but he has controlled his own men.”

Cole emphasized his commitment to fostering a collaborative relationship with the Tin Can Customs Command to address the prevailing economic challenges and boost revenue generation.

He proposed a strategy focused on high-volume, lower-margin transactions to attract more consignees to the port.

“Being an elected Chairman, I will sit with the Customs Area Controller and share my own little ideas and advice,”

“We have a particular revenue target at the command which we can achieve by turnover. If competitors are collecting N20 million on a container, we can collect N14 million on the same container and turn it over in several payments to make us have more.” He said

He stressed the importance of trade facilitation in retaining clients and attracting new business to the Tin Can Command.

“Our consignees bringing cargoes would be able to return to our command to start clearing their cargoes,”
“It is going to be a team work, but more of it lies with the clearing agents. The importers are coming from us, the revenue is being generated by us, we are then ones that decide if our clients should stay in Tin Can Command, or go to Apapa Command or KLT Command and PTML.” Cole asserted

In addition to his focus on improving port operations, Cole outlined plans to enhance welfare and inclusivity within the ANLCA chapter.

He announced the upcoming opening of the chapter’s secretariat and the establishment of a sick bay in collaboration with the POC Foundation, fulfilling a campaign promise to provide healthcare for members.

“In the next weeks, our secretariat should be opened. Secondly, our sick bay is coming up. In my manifesto, I promised our members healthcare, and the best thing I can do is to have POC Foundation take care of this, that is why the two have to work together,” Cole explained.

To promote unity and address factional issues within the chapter, Cole revealed that he has reached out to past chairmen and is forming a resolution committee.

“We are trying to come up with a resolution committee so that all the people that lost election, as well as the past Chairmen, we need their input in this government so that everybody would be carried along,” he stated.

“We have taken necessary steps, and I have consulted our bosses at the level of Western Zone, including the Vice President, with their advice, I have been able to collate what would help in resolving the issue of faction in Tin Can.”