Maritime Journalists Gear Up with New Skills on Customs Operations at Tin Can Island Command

By Sandra Chukwunyere 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Tin Can Island Port Command on Wednesday, December 17th  hosted the second batch of the Maritime Journalists Training Workshop, themed “Compliance, Collaboration, and Modernization.” This initiative aims to equip journalists with a deeper understanding of customs operations, trade facilitation tools, and modernization initiatives.

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The workshop, declared open by Comptroller Frank Onyeka, Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island Port Command, is part of the Service’s ongoing reforms to strengthen compliance, deepen collaboration with stakeholders, and embrace modernization in line with international standards.

Comptroller Onyeka emphasized the critical role of maritime journalists in promoting transparency, accountability, and public enlightenment. “The media, especially maritime journalists, are strategic partners in customs operations, and informed reportage is essential for nation-building,” he said. “An informed press is a powerful ally in nation-building, and through engagements like this, we aim to build mutual understanding, trust, and a shared commitment to transparency and professionalism.”

He noted that the workshop would address misconceptions surrounding port processes and enhance the capacity of journalists to report accurately on customs operations. “The workshop was designed to equip journalists with a deeper understanding of Customs operations, compliance requirements, trade facilitation tools and modernization initiatives, while also addressing misconceptions surrounding port processes,” he said.

Comptroller Onyeka also highlighted the importance of stakeholder collaboration, citing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Adewale Adeniyi’s emphasis on the need for collective effort to achieve effective service delivery. “The Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Adewale Adeniyi, placed very high premium on stakeholder collaboration, noting that effective service delivery could only be achieved through collective effort,” he said.

“The media, especially maritime journalists, play a strategic role in this journey, as partners in information dissemination, public enlightenment, and accountability,” Onyeka said, adding that the Service is committed to aligning Nigeria Customs operations with global best practices while promoting national economic growth and security.

The training coordinator, Innocent Orok, explained that the workshop was a product of sustained engagement between the maritime media and the Nigeria Customs Service. He recalled that the initiative was born out of concerns over inaccurate reporting driven by knowledge gaps.

The workshop featured five intensive technical and professional sessions, facilitated by experts in their fields:

1. *Overview of the NCS Act 2023* by DC CA Nwachukwu, LLB LLM

2. *Understanding the Role of B’Odogwu in Trade Facilitation* by AC MI Egwuyenga (OiC 856)

3. *Customs Modernization for Trade Facilitation: The Role of AEO and Time Release Study* by AC AE Ibrahim (Tech. Supervisor, Tin Can)

4. *Strengthening Global Supply Chain Security: Collaboration Under the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards* by DC AE Ejidoh (OiC of Bulk Cargo, Tin Can)

5. *Recalibrating the Compass: Character as the True North of Maritime Journalism* by Oluwaseyi Adegoke Adeyemo, Publisher, Inside Watch Africa (IWA)

Participants were drawn from across the maritime media space, with close to 100 journalists trained across the two batches held so far. One of the participants, Sandra Chukwunyere, Publisher of Newspoint247, commended the Nigeria Customs Service, the Comptroller-General, and the Tin Can Island Port Command for the edifying and impactful program.

The event climaxed with the presentation of certificates, plaques, and modern work tools to participants, underscoring the Service’s push to professionalize maritime reporting as part of broader efforts to align Nigeria Customs operations with global best practices.

Newspoint247 reports that the Can Island Port Command’s initiative is a significant step towards promoting transparency and accountability in customs operations. By empowering maritime journalists with knowledge and skills, the Service is fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual understanding, which is essential for national economic growth and security.