From PTML To TIN CAN To The Top: How ACG Joseph Anani Conquered Two Command, Rose To Greatness
From PTML To TIN CAN To The Top: How ACG Joseph Anani Conquered Two Command, Rose To Greatness
…₦181 Billion At PTML, ₦787.2 Billion At Tin Can, 743 Rifles Seized, Drugs Worth Billions Stopped — The Record That Earned Him His Star_
By Success Okezie
Friday, 13th November 2026, was not an ordinary day at the Tin Can Island Port Command.
The Command’s conference hall was filled to the rafters. Officers stood at attention. Stakeholders, sister agencies, freight forwarders, terminal operators, journalists and well-wishers filled every seat.
It was a day of celebration, emotion, and honour. Not a funeral, but a coronation of merit.
It was the day *Comptroller Joseph Anani*, the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command, formally handed over the baton to *Deputy Comptroller Emmanuel Agbor Ekok* as the new Acting Customs Area Controller, and stepped up to his new, higher calling as *Acting Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs.
Controller to ACG. In just six months at Tin Can.
That is not a transfer. That is a reward. That is Nigeria Customs saying to the world: _This is what excellence looks like. This is what we reward.
But to understand why Anani rose so fast, you must go back — to where he first proved himself as a Controller. To PTML.
*PART ONE: AT PTML — WHERE HE FIRST RAISED THE BAR*
When the Comptroller-General of Customs, *Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, looks for a man to hold a strategic command, he looks for competence, character and courage.
In Joseph Anani, he found all three — and more.
Anani is not a noisy officer. He does not seek the spotlight. He is what those who know him call _the unruffled reformer_ — calm in crisis, firm in principle, gentle in manner, but ruthless against smugglers, drug barons, arms traffickers and economic saboteurs.
At the Ports Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command, where he first cut his teeth as a Customs Area Controller, he proved his mettle within a very short period.
He raised the bar on revenue generation, trade facilitation, national security and leadership competency. He consolidated the Unified Customs Management System, popularly known as *B’Odogwu*, taking it from its teething stage to a stable, successful system.
He demonstrated uncommon dedication, professionalism and result-oriented leadership. His impressive revenue performance of over ₦178 billion*, his operational modernisation drive, his enhanced trade facilitation measures and his strategic enforcement collaborations clearly attested to his competence, vision and administrative dexterity.
By the time of his formal handover at PTML, that figure had climbed to *₦181 billion*.
And it was not just money. In his eight months at PTML, he achieved a *one-hour clearance of compliant vehicle imports* — a feat many thought impossible. He successfully seized and handed over illicit drugs, arms and ammunition to relevant agencies including the NDLEA, NAFDAC, and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Stakeholders described him as a man who turned PTML into a well-organised command with highly cooperative stakeholders. A man who did not just collect revenue, but built trust.
PTML was the rehearsal. Tin Can was the main stage.
*PART TWO: AT TIN CAN — WHERE HE BECAME A LEGEND*
On 22nd May 2026, Anani took over Tin Can Island Port Command — Nigeria’s second busiest seaport — from ACG Frank Onyeka, who had described the Command as being “on cruise control” after generating over ₦1.6 trillion in 2025 and seizing illicit goods worth over ₦35 billion.
Many wondered: _Can anyone sustain that tempo? Can anyone fill those big shoes?_
Anani did not just sustain it. He elevated it. He improved it. He stamped his own uncommon seal of excellence on it.
In his acceptance speech that day, with profound gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility, he pledged to consolidate on the successes already achieved while maintaining professionalism, discipline, transparency and efficient service delivery.
And he kept that promise — to the letter.
* TIN CAN REVENUE: ₦787,234,144,911.15 IN SIX MONTHS*
This is the number that silenced every doubter.
Speaking at his handover, ACG Anani detailed his achievements himself:
“Revenue generation remained a key priority, and from the moment I assumed duty, the Command pursued deliberate measures to boost collection through improved compliance, closer monitoring, more efficient operations and stronger stakeholder engagement. These efforts yielded appreciable growth in the Command’s revenue profile, reinforcing our commitment to the Nigeria Customs Service’s revenue mandate and to national economic development. In this vein, the Command generated a total of *₦787,234,144,911.15 between May and October 2026*.”
₦787.2 billion in just six months.
His first month alone — May 2026 — was a thunderous debut: *₦111.2 billion* collected in his first month in office.
At his maiden media engagement on 24th June 2026, he attributed that achievement to improved compliance by importers, enhanced operational effectiveness, and the dedication of officers and men of the Command.
He said, and he meant it: “We intend to consolidate on these gains and, indeed, strive to surpass previous achievements under the preceding administration.”
And he did.
Under Anani, Tin Can did not just collect revenue. It collected it with integrity, with systems, with technology, and with trust. He enforced the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 strictly, insisting that adherence to import regulations would remain non-negotiable, while ensuring that legitimate trade was not encumbered.
That is the Anani formula: _Firm on enforcement, friendly to compliance._
* TIN CAN ENFORCEMENT: THE TERROR OF ARMS TRAFFICKERS*
If revenue was his first triumph, enforcement was his second — and even more heroic.
Under Anani, Tin Can Island Command became a nightmare for arms smugglers, drug barons and economic saboteurs. In an election season, when criminals tried to flood Nigeria with weapons and drugs, Anani stood like a rock.
He has literally wrestled the Command out of the hands of economic saboteurs, drug barons and arms traffickers, in what has become the latest ‘arms import boom’.
*The 399 Rifles Seizure:*
Through credible intelligence and sustained surveillance, his officers intercepted containers laden with knocked-down pump-action rifles concealed among used goods. The components were assembled by experts from the Customs Armament Unit and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), revealing *399 pump-action rifles* in total, which were formally handed over to NCCSALW.
The Comptroller-General himself commended Comptroller Joseph Anani and his officers for their vigilance, noting the importance of such seizures as Nigeria confronts terrorism, banditry and kidnapping ahead of the 2027 general elections.
*The 204 Rifles Seizure:
Again, a 20-foot container No. TEMU 184536/9, which arrived from Turkey aboard MV Algeciras Express on 16 August 2026, was flagged and subjected to 100% physical examination. It contained knocked-down firearm components concealed among furniture, refrigerators, solar panels and detergent. After assembly, *204 MAS 49 ALTER MAGNUM pump-action rifles* alongside various leftover components were uncovered and handed over to NCCSALW.
Anani declared with courage:
“These repeated seizures send a clear message: the Tin Can Island Port Command will not be a weak link in the enforcement of import prohibitions, particularly when it concerns dangerous items capable of threatening the peace and security of our nation.”
*The July 2026 Arms + Drugs Breakthrough:
On 8th July 2026, a container aboard vessel MV Velika was flagged by the Service’s intelligence-driven risk management system. Upon examination, officers uncovered concealed crates containing knock-down components of Georgia pump-action rifles — 140 pieces of double-barrel rifles identified* as at the time of briefing, with counting still ongoing — and cannabis-infused products worth ₦373.8 million*. Two suspects were arrested, with a principal suspect tracked.
The CGC again commended Anani and his Enforcement Unit for their professionalism, vigilance and prompt response.
* TIN CAN DRUGS WAR: ₦3.6 BILLION OF POISON STOPPED*
Anani did not only stop guns. He stopped drugs that would have poisoned our children.
On 2nd September 2026, a 40-foot container No. MSDU655132/0 was intercepted after a thorough 100% joint physical examination. Inside were *890 packs of Delta-8 cannabis-infused cookies and gummies, weighing 598.08kg*, alongside two used vehicles.
Another 40-foot container No. SKU625643/6 contained 1,207 packages of Cannabis Indica weighing 603.75kg, with an estimated street value of ₦3,621,000,000.
Combined Duty Paid Value: ₦3,674,400,000.
Anani formally handed over the illicit substances to the NDLEA for further investigation, warning that by intercepting the illicit drugs, his officers had protected innocent citizens from unknowingly consuming tainted edibles.
The NDLEA Commander, Solomon Omotosho, described it as a triumph of joint enforcement synergy and a signal to smugglers that the Command remains committed to protecting the national interest.
This is what leadership looks like — a man who saves lives you will never see, from dangers you will never know.
* TRADE FACILITATION: OPEN DOORS FOR LEGITIMATE TRADERS*
Anani is not just a fighter. He is a facilitator.
He made stakeholders’ engagement central to his leadership. He met with traders, freight forwarders, terminal operators, shipping companies, importers and exporters. He operated an open-door policy. He emphasised technology integration, digital platforms for documentation and cargo tracking, to reduce human interference, minimise corruption and enhance transparency.
He believed that a port must be both a fortress and a marketplace — hard on criminals, soft on compliance.
He proved that you can be a facilitator and a fighter at the same time. You can open the doors for legitimate trade, and shut them firmly against criminals.
Throughout his tenure at Tin Can, Anani never forgot his officers.
At the handover, he added:
“The welfare and general well-being of officers and men remained an important consideration throughout my tenure. Efforts were made to encourage a supportive working environment, promote unity and strengthen the sense of belonging among officers and men.”
He charged his officers to remain professional, disciplined and intelligence-driven. He insisted that compromise and inefficiency would not be tolerated. But he also built a culture where everyone feels valued and encouraged.
He built a Command where discipline is the bedrock, but humanity is the roof.
He led from the front. He inspired by example.
Even the Director of the Directorate of State Security at Tin Can, Jonathan Jang, described Anani’s tenure as a call for celebration.
* PART THREE: THE HANDOVER — CONTROLLER TO ACG, WITH GRACE AND HONOUR
And then came Friday, 13th November 2026.
In his valedictory speech, Anani did not boast. He thanked.
He thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for the opportunity to serve as head of the Command. He thanked his officers. He thanked stakeholders. He thanked God.
He attributed his early success at Tin Can to the operational strategies laid down by his predecessor, ACG Frank Onyeka, noting that the Command was already on a steady growth path before his assumption of duty.
That humility — in a man who has just collected ₦787 billion in six months — is rare. It is what separates great men from merely successful men.
He handed over the ceremonial flag to his successor, Acting CAC Emmanuel Agbor Ekok, with a warm reception and a smooth transition.
Ekok, in return, paid him glowing tributes:
“I sincerely appreciate my predecessor, the outgoing Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Joseph Anani, now prepared to assume higher responsibilities as an Acting Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, for the warm reception accorded me and the smooth transition process.”
Ekok pledged to firmly align with the CGC’s strategic policy thrust of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation, alongside revenue optimisation, trade facilitation, robust enforcement and strict discipline — the very foundation Anani laid.
A smooth handover is the sign of a man who has no bitterness, no fear, no insecurity — only grace.
ACG ANANI: NIGERIA SALUTES YOU
Today, Joseph Anani is no longer just Comptroller Anani. He is Assistant Comptroller-General Anani.
It is a promotion well deserved. Earned in sweat, in integrity, in sacrifice, and in undeniable results across two commands:
* ₦181 billion at PTML, with one-hour clearance of compliant vehicles
-* ₦787.2 billion at Tin Can in just 6 months
* ₦111.2 billion in his first month at Tin Can alone
* 399 + 204 pump-action rifles seized and handed over to NCCSALW
* 140 double-barrel rifles intercepted in July
* ₦3.6 billion worth of cannabis-infused drugs seized and handed over to NDLEA
* 2 suspects arrested for arms smuggling
* Trade facilitation strengthened, compliance improved, officers’ welfare protected
The Nigeria Customs Service, under CGC Adeniyi, has shown again its resolve to appoint the best and most competent officers to run its affairs at all levels — irrespective of tribe or religion — and Anani is the shining proof.
Tin Can will miss him. PTML will miss him. But Nigeria needs him higher. Nigeria needs his wisdom at the top, where policy is made, where strategy is shaped, where the future of the Service is decided.
ACG Joseph Anani — the unruffled reformer, the quiet lion, the revenue giant, the terror of arms traffickers, the saviour of our children from drugs, the friend of legitimate traders, the father of his officers, the pride of the Nigeria Customs Service.
You came. You served. You conquered two commands. You left both better, safer, richer and stronger than you met them.
Tin Can salutes you. PTML salutes you. Customs salutes you. Nigeria salutes you.
Go higher, Sir. The best is yet to come
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