Nigeria Customs and Communication Professionals Deepen Media Partnership

The Nigeria Customs Service is preparing to deepen its relationship with communication scholars and media professionals, linking institutional reform to stronger public communication.

The service discussed the proposed partnership on Monday when executive members of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria visited its national headquarters in Abuja. Abdullahi Maiwada, the service’s national public relations officer, received the delegation on behalf of Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi.

Maiwada highlighted the Customs Service newsletter, social media channels and data analytics as key parts of its communication work. “In every reform, communication must be embedded to achieve the desired result,” he said.

“

In every reform, communication must be embedded to achieve the desired result.

He also pointed to the service’s creative-industry projects, including the film “Beyond the Badge” and the 79-episode series “Novera.” The productions have begun generating revenue for Customs while creating jobs in the entertainment sector. The service plans to expand the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network to Lagos, seek corporate membership in ACSPN and encourage its public relations officers to join the association.

ACSPN President Rotimi Olatunji welcomed the proposed cooperation and offered support for Customs personnel pursuing higher academic and professional qualifications. “When communication scholars are allowed to lead organisations, they excel because they remain conscious of public needs, sensibilities, and sensitivities,” he said. Olatunji also called for closer cooperation between scholars and media practitioners, institutionalized fact-checking, and stronger defenses against misinformation, disinformation and AI-manipulated content such as deepfakes. The visit ended with a tour of Customs information technology and modernization facilities and the NCBN studios.

“

When communication scholars are allowed to lead organisations, they excel because they remain conscious of public needs, sensibilities, and sensitivities.