The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening strategic communication as a key driver of reforms, stakeholder confidence, and trade facilitation, with officers and men of the Service converging in Port Harcourt for a high-level strategic communication conference.
Opening the conference, the National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, emphasised that communication must be integrated into Customs operations rather than treated as an afterthought.
He noted that effective communication is essential to building public trust, encouraging voluntary compliance, and supporting the successful implementation of the Service’s ongoing reforms.
“We need to humanise reforms and showcase success stories to demonstrate their impact on the everyday citizen while aligning operational achievements with strategic communication,” Maiwada said.
During the first technical session, Managing Director of Reputation Masters Limited, Jossy Nkwocha, challenged participants to move beyond conventional public relations by embracing strategic planning, innovation, and corporate communication as indispensable tools for institutional growth and sustained public confidence.
In the second technical session, Lawrence Dike of the University of Port Harcourt underscored the importance of stakeholder engagement in driving organisational transformation.
According to him, trust, consistency, and people-centred communication remain fundamental to achieving sustainable reforms.
“Trust is the currency of business and relationships. Trust is your reputation, and reputation is your legacy,” Dike remarked.
Highlighting the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Titus Omajali stressed that the programme’s effectiveness depends largely on robust communication and collaboration among Customs and stakeholders across the international supply chain.
“The success of the AEO programme largely depends on effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders across the international supply chain,” Omajali stated.
The conference also featured an engaging panel discussion moderated by Parry Benson, with CSC Abdullahi Husseini, CSC Oscar Ivara, CSC Emmanuel Tangwa, SC Magaji Dikko, and SC Juliana Tomo sharing practical experiences on managing corporate and strategic communication within complex operational environments.
Providing an industry perspective, General Manager of the Trade Modernisation Project, Bamidele Chinedu, urged Public Relations practitioners within the Service to position themselves as credible and trusted sources of information by communicating clearly, listening to stakeholder feedback, and maintaining consistency in public engagement.
The first day of the conference ended with participants reaffirming their commitment to strengthening strategic communication across the Nigeria Customs Service, recognising that effective communication is no longer solely about reputation management but a strategic instrument for driving reforms, promoting trade facilitation, enhancing stakeholder confidence, and advancing institutional excellence.
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