By Emamuzo Iboma
In a bold move towards reinforcing integrity and ethical standards within the public service, the Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, in partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), held a comprehensive training session focused on transparency and accountability.
The sensitisation lecture, which took place on Friday, April 11, 2025, at Command’s headquarters, which brought together customs officers from various units, alongside representatives from the ICPC and members of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU).
Welcoming participants, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, reiterated the Service’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption. He emphasized the importance of integrity in customs operations, stating, “Discipline, transparency, and accountability are non-negotiable values in our operations. We have instituted systems that detect and deal decisively with any form of misconduct.”
Assistant Comptroller Owoniyi, who serves as the ACTU Coordinator for Customs Zone A, set the tone for the event with a preamble highlighting ACTU’s role in fostering a culture of transparency within the Service.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Mrs. Mary Omonoyan from ICPC’s Department of Public Enlightenment and Education spoke on the critical need for openness in public office. She noted that trust in government institutions tend to begins with ethical behavior from public servants, and urged officers to embody the principles of honesty and accountability in their duties.
Dr. Florence Bari, Deputy Director of Operations at ICPC Lagos, also addressed participants, spotlighting common ethical challenges in the public sector, such as absenteeism, tardiness, and irregularities in procurement processes. She warned that such practices erode public confidence and weaken governance, urging officers to remain vigilant and uphold the ideals of public service.
The training session ended with an engaging interactive discussion where officers shared experiences and proposed actionable ideas to bolster transparency in their departments.
The event underscores the ongoing collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and ICPC in promoting good governance, and marks a significant step toward institutional reform at one of Nigeria’s busiest port commands.
