NCS Deepens Media Partnership to Strengthen Public Awareness, Stakeholder Engagement
The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its commitment to building stronger ties with the media as part of efforts to enhance stakeholder engagement, improve public trust and support national development initiatives.
The renewed commitment was highlighted during a media parley organised by the National Public Relations Unit of the Service at the Kano/Jigawa Area Command Headquarters, Abdullahi Dikko Inde Conference Hall, Bompai, Kano, on Monday, 25 May 2026.
The event, themed “Building Synergy Between the Media and Customs for Enhanced Stakeholders’ Awareness and National Development,” brought together senior Customs officers, journalists and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists from Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna and Katsina states.
Speaking during the engagement, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, described the media as an indispensable partner in nation-building, public enlightenment and institutional transparency.
According to him, the media plays a crucial role in bridging communication gaps between government institutions and the public by disseminating information on government policies, Customs procedures, trade regulations and enforcement activities.
“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,” Maiwada stated.
He explained that under the leadership of Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, the Service has intensified reforms aimed at modernising Customs operations and improving service delivery across the country.
Maiwada listed the reforms to include trade modernisation, digital transformation, intelligence-driven enforcement, stakeholder engagement and institutional transparency, noting that the initiatives are designed to create a more responsive, accountable and technology-driven Customs administration capable of supporting Nigeria’s economic growth.
He further urged journalists to uphold professionalism, fairness and responsible reporting, stressing that accurate and timely media coverage has become increasingly important as Customs operations continue to evolve in response to emerging economic and security realities.
Maiwada also reiterated the Service’s determination to strengthen collaboration with credible media organisations in order to combat misinformation and improve public understanding of Customs activities through multilingual communication strategies.
“We value this relationship and will continue to work closely with journalists to ensure accurate and balanced reporting of Customs activities,” he added.
In his goodwill message, the Acting Customs Area Controller of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, described the media engagement as both timely and necessary for strengthening institutional communication and building public confidence in the Service.
Adamu noted that collaboration between the media and Customs remains critical to achieving the agency’s core mandates of revenue generation, trade facilitation and border security.
“The partnership between Customs and the media remains indispensable in achieving effective revenue generation, trade facilitation, and border security objectives,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Mustapha Muhammad, Vice Chairman of the Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, commended the Customs Service for organising the parley and fostering stronger interaction with journalists.
He described the relationship between the media and Customs as mutually beneficial, referring to both institutions as “two sides of the same coin.”
Muhammad reaffirmed the commitment of journalists to ethical journalism, professionalism and responsible reportage, while also praising the Kano/Jigawa Area Command for maintaining cordial working relations with media practitioners in the region.
The parley also featured an interactive session during which journalists engaged Customs officials on issues relating to operational procedures, trade facilitation processes, enforcement activities and other stakeholder concerns.
Participants at the forum stressed the need for sustained dialogue, trust and professionalism as essential ingredients for fostering a productive and enduring partnership between the media and the Nigeria Customs Service.
