The Nigeria Customs Service’s stakeholders express satisfaction with the posting of Deputy Comptroller Nura Ibrahim Miko to the Ports and Terminals Multi-Services Limited (PTML) Command as acting Area Controller by the management of the Service, stressing that the hard working officer comes with a mandate to drive efficiency, integrity and revenue growth in Nigeria’s leading Roll-on-Roll-off (RoRo)Terminal
By Innocent Chukwu
The Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) management recently made a commendable choice that has elicited jubilation among its key stakeholders. According to these stakeholders, rarely in the history of the NCS has its best or key decisions aroused such excitement as the appointment of Deputy Comptroller (DC) Nura Miko as the new Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Ports and Terminals Multi-Services Limited (PTML) Area Command, Apapa, Lagos.
The appointment happened late May 2026, and precisely on Monday, May 25, 2026, DC Miko took over the leadership of the Command from his immediate predecessor, Comptroller Joe Anani, who now heads the Tincan Island Port (TCIP) Area Command. Miko’s stint as the DC Revenue at the Apapa Area 1 Command, Lagos, witnessed the astronomical increase in the Command’s revenue generation as a result of his expertise in plugging revenue leakages.
Under one of Miko’s mentors at the Apapa Premier Port Command, now Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Babatunde Olomu, the Command could metaphorically squeeze revenue out of stones when the latter’s leadership vowed that the Federal Government must record zero-tolerance for revenue losses at the Command. Miko whom his admirers refer to as the silent operator, was at the centre of the revenue surge at the time.
Having graduated from Dr. Olomu’s tutelage, Miko has now arrived PTML Command arming himself with zest, enthusiasm, and as with his mentor Olomu, passion and resolve to squeeze revenue out of any corner it tries to hide. Charisma and patience are rare attributes of great leaders, a combination of these phenomena has remained Miko’s differentiating factor in recording success wherever he finds himself as a leader.
This factor Miko has carried along in his journey to PTML Command with the hope to elevate it to an enviable height in the areas of trade facilitation, revenue generation and security of the nation.
When Miko was announced as acting CAC of PTML Command, industry watchers knew the appointment was more than routine. It was a strategic move by the leadership of the NCS) to place one of its most tested and trusted officers at the helm of a command that sits at the heart of Nigeria’s maritime trade.
PTML, widely recognized as the nation’s foremost Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) Terminal, is not only a gateway for imported vehicles and machinery, but also a litmus test for Customs’ modernization drive.
A Proven performer with a new mandate, industry players insist that
Miko’s track record at Apapa Area Command, where he excelled as DC Revenue, speaks volumes. According to them, his reputation for diligence, brilliance, and a result-oriented approach earned him the confidence of the NCS management. The Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) in charge of the Customs ICT Department at the headquarters in Abuja, Oluyomi Adebakin, said the management has confidence in Miko’s ability to achieve far more than what he met on ground at PTML Command because his performance record at the Apapa Area 1 Command still speaks loudly to his credit.
On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, DCG Adebakin told this to Customs officers inside the PTML Terminal during her inspection tour of the Scanning Units in Lagos. She went on the inspection tour in company with the newly appointed acting Comptroller in charge of the NCS Scanning Unit at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, DC UA Madugu. The DCG
described Miko as “a dedicated officer with the patience and cool-headedness required to deal with the everyday pressure from the trading community.” She also noted that officers with such abilities would go far in public leadership.
Such qualities are indispensable at PTML, where the impatience of importers and freight forwarders often collides with the need for regulatory compliance and operational integrity.
PTML’s Unique Challenges
Unlike other ports, PTML’s specialization in RoRo cargo presents both opportunities and challenges. The terminal’s two-hour clearance benchmark for compliant imports is a remarkable achievement, but sustaining and surpassing it requires constant innovation. Congestion, space management, and the delicate balance between speed and scrutiny are recurring issues. Stakeholders said Miko’s challenge is not just to maintain the record but to push the boundaries further, ensuring that efficiency does not come at the expense of transparency.
Stakeholder-Centric Leadership
From his maiden engagements with Grimaldi/PTML management, freight forwarding associations, and sister agencies, Miko has made it clear that collaboration will be the cornerstone of his administration. His open-door policy of “I am here to listen” signals a departure from top-down directives to inclusive governance. By inviting stakeholders to co-create solutions, he is building trust and laying the groundwork for reforms that are both practical and sustainable.
Terminal operators, represented by PTML’s General Manager Tunde Keshinro, have already pledged support, citing Miko’s history of constructive engagement since his days at the Premier Port Command.This synergy between Customs and operators is critical. Industry watchers said stronger cooperation will not only address operational bottlenecks, but will also reinforce Nigeria’s competitiveness as a maritime destination.
Revenue Growth and Modernization
Beyond clearance timelines, revenue generation remains a core mandate. Stakeholders have always stressed that PTML’s role in Customs’ revenue architecture is significant, and Miko’s appointment is a signal that the Service expects more. His roadmap aligns with the NCS modernization agenda: leveraging ICT, strengthening scanning operations, and ensuring compliance without stifling trade. His decision to accompany the DCG ICT on an inspection tour of Scanning Units, even at short notice, underscores his commitment to modernization as a driver of efficiency and integrity.
The Outlook: Raising the Bar
Analysts said the expectations on Miko are high, but quickly added that the confidence in his ability to deliver is equally high. His intelligence, patience, and stakeholder-driven approach, they also said, position him as the right leader for the PTML Command at a time when Nigeria’s maritime sector is under pressure to compete globally. If his tenure at Apapa is any indication, PTML is set to witness not just continuity but innovation: shorter clearance times, improved space management, stronger stakeholder relations, and higher revenue.
In the words of the DCG ICT, officers like Miko “will go far in public leadership.” At PTML, his mission appears very clear: to raise the bar, consolidate gains, and chart a new course for Customs’ role in trade facilitation. For stakeholders and the trading community, the message is equally clear, to brace up for a tenure defined by efficiency, integrity, and growth.
