Nigeria Customs Strengthens Media Partnership to Enhance Public Awareness and National Development

Victoria Silvanus

The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its commitment to building stronger relationships with the media as part of efforts to improve stakeholder engagement, promote transparency, and support national development.

This renewed commitment was highlighted during a media parley held on Monday, May 25, 2026, at the Kano/Jigawa Area Command Headquarters, Abdullahi Dikko Inde Conference Hall in Bompai, Kano. The event, organised by the National Public Relations Unit, carried the theme: “Building Synergy Between the Media and Customs for Enhanced Stakeholders’ Awareness and National Development.”

The gathering brought together senior Customs officials, journalists, and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists from Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Katsina states to discuss ways of improving collaboration between the media and the Service.
Speaking during the event, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, described the media as an essential partner in nation-building and public enlightenment.

According to him, the media plays a key role in communicating government policies, Customs procedures, trade regulations, and enforcement activities to the public and stakeholders.

Maiwada explained that under the leadership of Adewale Adeniyi, the Service has intensified reforms focused on trade modernisation, digital transformation, intelligence-driven enforcement, stakeholder engagement, and institutional transparency.
He noted that these reforms are aimed at creating a more responsive, accountable, technology-driven, and people-oriented Customs administration capable of supporting Nigeria’s economic growth.

The Customs spokesperson also called on journalists to maintain professionalism, fairness, and responsible reporting, stressing that accurate and timely media coverage is crucial 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,” Maiwada stated. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle misinformation through stronger collaboration with credible media organisations and the use of multilingual communication strategies.
In his goodwill message, Acting Customs Area Controller of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Usman Adamu, described the engagement as timely and important for strengthening public trust and institutional communication.

He emphasised that collaboration between Customs and the media remains vital in achieving effective revenue generation, trade facilitation, and border security objectives.

Also speaking at the event, Mustapha Muhammad commended the NCS for organising the media engagement. He described the relationship between the media and Customs as “two sides of the same coin” and reaffirmed journalists’ commitment to ethical journalism, professionalism, and responsible reporting.
The event concluded with an interactive session where journalists engaged Customs officials on operational procedures, trade facilitation processes, enforcement activities, and other stakeholder concerns.

Participants at the parley stressed the need for sustained dialogue, trust, and professionalism to strengthen the partnership between the media and the Nigeria Customs Service for the benefit of national development.

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