TCIP Partners ICPC to Strengthen Transparency, Accountability in Public Service
Nifemi Coker
In a shared commitment to fostering accountability and raising ethical standards across the public service, the Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service joined forces with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to host a training themed ‘Transparency and Accountability in Public Service.’
The event which held on Friday, April 11, 2025, at TCIP Headquarters, garnered attendance of officers from various units of the Command alongside representatives from ICPC and the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service.
In his welcome address, Customs Area Controller TCIP, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, highlighted the importance of integrity within the Service. He commended ICPC and ACTU for their roles in promoting transparency, stating: “Discipline, transparency, and accountability are non-negotiable values in our operations.”
Onyeka also emphasized that the Customs Service has in place strict systems to detect and address corrupt practices.
In his remarks, Assistant Comptroller Owoniyi, ACTU Coordinator, Zone A, Assistant Comptroller Owoniyi, reaffirmed the unit’s dedication to fostering a culture of ethics and accountability within the Service
The keynote address was delivered by Mrs. Mary Omonoyan of ICPC’s Public Enlightenment and Education Department. She stressed the importance of openness in building public trust, noting that ethical leadership is fundamental to effective governance.
Adding to the discussion, Dr. Florence Bari, ICPC Deputy Director of Operations in Lagos, shed light on the broader consequences of corruption in the public sector pointing out such issues as tardiness and irregularities in procurement as symptoms of deeper ethical lapses.
Bari urged officers to uphold integrity, warning that corruption compromises service delivery and damages institutional trust.
The event wrapped up with an interactive session, where officers shared insights and strategies to reinforce transparency within their respective departments.
This collaboration reinforces the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service in strengthening transparency, integrity and accountability across its Commands in line with the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
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