Nigeria Customs Seeks Stronger Media Partnership for Reforms

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is actively pursuing a stronger partnership with the media to bolster public trust and foster transparency. This strategic collaboration is intended to support ongoing reforms focused on improving trade facilitation, enhancing border security, and driving national economic development.

The call for closer media ties was articulated during a press conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in anticipation of the NCS's 2026 Public Relations Week. The event's theme, ‘Realigning Corporate Communication as a Strategic Driver of Institutional Effectiveness and Public Trust,’ underscores the service's commitment to open communication.

Deputy Comptroller of Customs and NCS National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, emphasized that trust is fundamental to the service's operations. He highlighted the media's crucial role in shaping public perception and disseminating government policies. Maiwada described the media as an indispensable partner in nation-building, rather than a mere observer.

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Effective communication, transparency and strategic collaboration are essential ingredients for institutional growth and national development

Maiwada noted that the NCS has initiated significant reforms in innovation and trade facilitation. He stressed that the success of these initiatives hinges on the media's accurate, timely, and responsible dissemination of information. The media acts as a vital bridge, communicating customs procedures, trade regulations, and enforcement activities to stakeholders and the public through balanced reporting.

Chief Superintendent of Customs Emmanuel Tangwa, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for PR Week 2026, added that the media parley serves as a strategic platform for strengthening transparency, professionalism, and stakeholder engagement. He pointed out that this event was historic, being the first strategic media engagement hosted by the National Public Relations Office for the South-east and South-south geopolitical zones. Port Harcourt was chosen for its strategic maritime and commercial importance to Nigeria's economy.

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The media serves as the bridge through which government policies, customs procedures, trade regulations and enforcement activities are communicated to stakeholders and the general public. This can only be achieved through balanced reportage