CUSTOMS CG ADENIYI TASKS PROs ON STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION TO DEEPEN REFORMS, BUILD PUBLIC TRUST

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has urged Public Relations Officers (PROs) across the Service to move beyond conventional media engagement and embrace strategic, intelligence-driven communication to support ongoing reforms, strengthen institutional credibility, and sustain public trust.

Adeniyi made the call during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the end of a four-day gathering focused on repositioning corporate communication as a strategic management tool for institutional effectiveness.

Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General described the conference as a timely platform for reflection, learning, and institutional renewal, stressing that effective communication has become a key driver of successful public sector reforms.

«“Around the world, communication has evolved from a support service into a strategic management function. Reforms cannot succeed unless they are understood, accepted, and trusted by the people they are designed to serve,” Adeniyi stated.»

He noted that the rapid growth of digital media, artificial intelligence, and real-time information has transformed the communication landscape, requiring Customs Public Relations Officers to become more proactive, research-driven, and intelligence-led in communicating government policies and the Service’s operations.

According to him, every achievement of the Nigeria Customs Service must be communicated with professionalism and purpose.

«“Every seizure, every reform, every trade facilitation initiative, and every act of service must be communicated professionally and purposefully,” he added.»

Earlier, the Acting Zonal Coordinator of Zone ‘C’, Comptroller Pascal Chibuoke, described corporate communication as a vital strategic asset capable of shaping public perception, strengthening stakeholder confidence, promoting transparency, and reinforcing institutional legitimacy.

«“Corporate communication is no longer a support function. It is a strategic asset that shapes public perception, strengthens stakeholder confidence, promotes transparency, and reinforces institutional legitimacy,” Chibuoke said.»

Also speaking, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, described the 2026 conference as another landmark in the evolution of Customs corporate communication. He said the event built on the successes of previous editions held in Lagos, Gwagwalada, and Kano.

Maiwada emphasized that institutional reforms require an effective communication framework capable of driving public understanding and stakeholder engagement.

«“Institutional reforms cannot succeed without an effective communication framework. This conference was designed not merely to exchange ideas but to develop practical solutions, strengthen professional networks, and reposition Public Relations as a strategic corporate communication function within the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.»

Delivering the closing remarks, the Customs Area Controller of Port Harcourt Area I Command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, commended the Comptroller-General for prioritizing professional development and institutional capacity building. She encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the conference to improve service delivery across their various commands.

In separate goodwill messages, the President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, and the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahaya, praised the leadership of the Comptroller-General for institutionalizing strategic communication within the Nigeria Customs Service. They also challenged Public Relations Officers to uphold professionalism, ethical standards, and excellence in their engagements with stakeholders.

The conference, themed “Realigning Corporate Communication as a Strategic Driver of Institutional Effectiveness and Public Trust,” featured technical sessions on Customs modernization, crisis communication, media intelligence, digital innovation, stakeholder engagement, and emerging communication technologies, all aimed at strengthening the future of the Nigeria Customs Service’s communication architecture.

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