Customs Charts New Course for Strategic Communication to Deepen Public Trust and Trade Facilitation
By Queen Abayomi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to making strategic communication a core driver of institutional reforms, public trust, and trade facilitation, as officers and personnel gathered in Port Harcourt for the 2026 National Public Relations Conference.
Declaring the conference open, the National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, challenged Public Relations officers to move beyond traditional information dissemination by embedding communication into every aspect of Customs operations.
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He emphasised that communication should no longer be viewed as an afterthought but as a strategic function that strengthens public confidence, promotes voluntary compliance, and supports the successful implementation of the Service’s reforms.
“We need to humanise reforms and showcase success stories that demonstrate their impact on the everyday citizen while aligning operational achievements with strategic communication,” Maiwada said.
The conference featured a series of technical sessions focused on strengthening the communication capacity of the Service.
Leading the first session, the Managing Director of Reputation Masters Limited, Jossy Nkwocha, urged participants to embrace strategic planning, innovation, and corporate communication as indispensable tools for institutional growth. He encouraged Public Relations practitioners to position themselves as strategic partners in advancing the Service’s vision and enhancing its public image.
In the second technical session, Lawrence Dike of the University of Port Harcourt underscored the importance of stakeholder engagement in driving successful organisational transformation. According to him, sustainable reforms can only thrive where institutions consistently build trust through transparent, people-centred communication.
“Trust is the currency of business and relationships. Trust is your reputation, and reputation is your legacy,” he stated.
The conference also spotlighted the Nigeria Customs Service’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme. Delivering a presentation on the initiative, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Titus Omajali stressed that effective communication remains fundamental to the programme’s success. He called for stronger collaboration between Customs and stakeholders across the international supply chain to improve compliance, strengthen partnerships, and facilitate legitimate trade.
“The success of the AEO programme largely depends on effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders across the international supply chain,” Omajali noted.
Participants also engaged in a panel discussion moderated by Parry Benson, with contributions from CSC Abdullahi Husseini, CSC Oscar Ivara, CSC Emmanuel Tangwa, Superintendent of Customs (SC) Magaji Dikko, and SC Juliana Tomo. The panel shared practical experiences and strategies for managing corporate communication and navigating complex operational environments while sustaining public confidence.
Providing industry insight, the General Manager of the Trade Modernisation Project, Bamidele Chinedu, encouraged Public Relations practitioners to become trusted sources of information by communicating with clarity, listening to stakeholder feedback, and maintaining consistency in public engagement.
The opening day of the conference concluded with a renewed resolve to strengthen strategic communication across the Nigeria Customs Service. Participants agreed that effective communication has become a critical enabler of institutional reforms, stakeholder confidence, trade facilitation, and the Service’s broader mandate of national development.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JULY 25TH 2026)
