Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Ports Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has entered a new era as Comptroller Joe Anani assumed duty as the new Customs Area Controller (CAC), pledging to run an “open door” administration while enforcing a strict zero-tolerance stance on smuggling.
Comptroller Anani, whose posting followed recent deployments by Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, took over from Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Tenny Mankini Daniyan at a brief ceremony attended by senior officers and stakeholders.
In his inaugural address, Anani praised his predecessor for his “trailblazing leadership” that saw PTML command achieve major milestones, particularly the rollout and consolidation of the Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu), which transformed revenue collection and trade facilitation.
“The CGC’s zero tolerance for smuggling will be duly enforced on my watch. Let me use this opportunity to inform you that my office is without a door. I shall be accessible to all, physically and virtually, in the quest to improve on our duties. Feel free to interact with me and avail me all relevant information needed for success,” Anani declared. “
He called on customs officers, sister agencies, and private sector players to maintain high compliance levels, stressing that compliance benefits everyone by saving time, money, and avoiding costly sanctions such as seizures, detentions, and arrests.
Stakeholders present lauded ACG Daniyan’s tenure, describing his achievements as transformative.
Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, President of the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), hailed Daniyan as “a man whose records speak volumes,” while Chief Charles Nwarrienne, PTML Chapter Chairman of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), suggested he deserved a “certificate of project completion” for steering *B’Odogwu* from pilot phase to full deployment.
With Anani’s commitment to transparency and strict enforcement, PTML Command is set for a renewed push towards greater efficiency, stakeholder collaboration, and an uncompromising fight against smuggling.