The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its engagement with communication scholars and professionals as it seeks deeper collaboration in media, digital communication and professional development.
The development followed a meeting on Monday, August 31, 2026, between the NCS and executive members of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) at the Service’s National Headquarters in Abuja.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the National Public Relations Officer and spokesperson of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, underscored the strategic importance of effective communication in driving and sustaining institutional reforms.
Maiwada said the Service had continued to deploy various communication channels, including its monthly newsletter, social media platforms and data analytics, to effectively communicate its activities and reforms to stakeholders. He stated that communication must be integrated into every reform process to achieve the desired outcomes.
The Customs spokesperson also highlighted the Service’s growing engagement with Nigeria’s creative industry through its movie productions, including the one-off film Beyond the Badge and the 79-episode series Novera.
According to him, the initiatives have not only generated revenue for the NCS but have also contributed to employment opportunities within the entertainment industry.
Maiwada further disclosed plans to expand the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN) to Lagos, while announcing the Service’s intention to pursue corporate membership of ACSPN and encourage its Public Relations officers to become members of the association.
Earlier, the President of ACSPN, Professor Rotimi Williams Olatunji, commended Maiwada for his continued support for the association and welcomed the proposed institutional partnership with the NCS.
Olatunji pledged the association’s support for Customs personnel seeking higher academic and professional qualifications.
He noted that communication professionals bring a strong understanding of public needs and sensitivities to organisational leadership.
During a joint press briefing at the NCS headquarters auditorium, ACSPN formally announced its 2026 National Conference, themed: “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruptions and Dynamics of Communication.”
The conference will focus on the growing influence of artificial intelligence, social media and digital platforms on political communication ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Olatunji also called for stronger collaboration between communication scholars and media practitioners to promote fact-based public discourse and tackle the growing threats posed by misinformation, disinformation and AI-generated content, including deepfakes.
He urged media organisations to institutionalise fact-checking mechanisms to enable citizens make informed decisions and better navigate the increasingly complex digital electoral environment.
The engagement ended with a guided tour of key facilities at the NCS headquarters, including the Information and Communication Technology (ICT)/Modernisation Department and the NCBN studios.
The delegation was briefed on the Service’s digital operations, technological modernisation initiatives and evolving media communication strategy.
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