By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the media as part of efforts to enhance stakeholder awareness, deepen public trust, and support national development initiatives across the country.
The renewed commitment was underscored during a media parley held on Monday, 25 May 2026, at the Kano/Jigawa Area Command Headquarters, Abdullahi Dikko Inde Conference Hall, Bompai, Kano. The engagement, organised by the National Public Relations Unit of the Service, was themed “Building Synergy Between the Media and Customs for Enhanced Stakeholders’ Awareness and National Development.”
The event brought together senior Customs officers, journalists, and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) from Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Katsina states in a strategic dialogue aimed at strengthening institutional communication and fostering mutual understanding between the Service and the media.
Speaking during the parley, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, described the media as an indispensable partner in nation-building and public enlightenment, noting that effective communication remains central to the success of Customs operations and reforms.
“The media serves as a vital bridge through which government policies, Customs procedures, trade regulations, and enforcement activities are communicated to stakeholders and the general public,” he stated.
DC Maiwada explained that under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Service has intensified reforms focused on trade modernisation, digital transformation, intelligence-driven enforcement, stakeholder engagement, and institutional transparency.
According to him, the reforms are designed to build a more responsive, accountable, technology-driven, and people-oriented Customs administration capable of supporting national economic growth and improving service delivery.
He further urged journalists to sustain professionalism, fairness, and responsible reportage, stressing that accurate and timely media coverage has become increasingly important as Customs operations continue to evolve.
“We value this relationship and will continue to work closely with journalists to ensure accurate and balanced reporting of Customs activities,” DC Maiwada added.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts by the Service to counter misinformation through stronger collaboration with credible media organisations as well as the deployment of multilingual communication strategies aimed at reaching wider audiences.
In his goodwill message, the Acting Customs Area Controller of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, described the engagement as timely and essential in strengthening institutional communication and enhancing public confidence in the operations of the Service.
“The partnership between Customs and the media remains indispensable in achieving effective revenue generation, trade facilitation, and border security objectives,” he said.
Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mustapha Muhammad, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for organising the engagement, describing the relationship between the media and Customs as critical to national development.
He noted that both institutions remain “two sides of the same coin,” while reaffirming the commitment of journalists to professionalism, ethical journalism, and responsible reporting.
Muhammad further praised the Kano/Jigawa Area Command for sustaining cordial and productive relations with media practitioners within the region.
The media parley also featured an interactive session during which journalists engaged Customs officials on operational procedures, trade facilitation processes, enforcement activities, and other stakeholder concerns affecting Customs operations.
Participants at the forum emphasised the importance of sustained dialogue, professionalism, transparency, and trust-building in fostering a productive and mutually beneficial partnership between the media and the Nigeria Customs Service.
