The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken a major step toward strengthening its strategic communication capacity with the induction of 70 Public Relations officers into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the first mass induction of Customs personnel into the professional body since 2013.
The induction ceremony, held on Monday, July 13, 2026, at the Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, underscores the NCS’s commitment to professionalising its Public Relations cadre and equipping officers with the expertise required to effectively communicate the Service’s reforms, operations and institutional achievements.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the induction as a strategic investment in the future of the Service’s communication architecture.
He said the transformation of the Nigeria Customs Service including its emergence as one of the best-performing government agencies in ease of doing business is the product of deliberate reforms that must be supported by skilled communication professionals.
According to the CGC, as the Service embraces technology-driven Customs administration, Public Relations officers must remain proactive in combating misinformation, shaping positive public perception and sustaining stakeholders’ confidence.
“Rumours will be heard, narratives will be pushed, so be ready to use your communication with clarity and the necessary measures so rumours can be addressed swiftly and decisively,” Adeniyi charged the newly inducted officers.
The Customs boss also disclosed that the Service’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, Customs Cares, is set to receive recognition at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, describing it as a legacy project whose impact should continue to be amplified through ethical and strategic communication.
President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for prioritising professionalism and investing in certified communication practitioners.
He noted that under Comptroller-General Adeniyi’s leadership, the Service has grown into a national institution recognised for its reforms, corporate excellence and increasing influence within the global Customs community.
“You can no longer dismiss matters concerning the Service. You must be proud of this as a Nigerian,” Neliaku said.
Also addressing the inductees, former National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Retired Comptroller Joseph Attah, urged them to uphold the ethics of the Public Relations profession by remaining truthful, accurate and responsible in all their engagements.
He stressed the importance of continuous professional development through seminars, workshops and active participation in NIPR programmes, noting that effective crisis communication requires composure, empathy and strategic thinking.
In his welcome address, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Aliyu Maiwada, attributed the milestone to the unwavering support of the Comptroller-General of Customs and the contributions of former Customs spokespersons who laid the foundation for the growth of the Public Relations Unit.
The induction of the 70 officers represents another milestone in the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing reform agenda and reinforces its commitment to institutionalising excellence in strategic communication while strengthening public trust and stakeholder engagement.
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