Customs Pledges Stronger Media Partnership as PR Conference Opens in Port Harcourt
By Queen Abayomi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with journalists as part of efforts to build public trust, improve communication on its ongoing reforms and ensure Nigerians receive accurate information about its responsibilities in trade facilitation, border security, anti-smuggling operations and economic development.
The commitment was reiterated on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, during a strategic media parley held ahead of the opening of the 2026 Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
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Declaring the parley open on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Zonal Coordinator of Zone ‘C’, Acting Assistant Comptroller-General Pascal Chibuoke, welcomed participants from the South-East and South-South zones and encouraged them to make the most of the conference.
He stressed the need for sustained collaboration in projecting the Service’s achievements, saying, “Let us continue to project the positive image of the Nigeria Customs Service through effective communication and stronger public understanding of our statutory responsibilities.”
In his opening remarks, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, described journalists as indispensable partners in nation-building, noting that effective communication remains critical to the success of the Service’s ongoing reforms.
“The reforms and innovations we are driving in the Nigeria Customs Service cannot succeed in isolation without public understanding and trust,” he said.
The Customs Area Controller of Port Harcourt Area I Command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, described this year’s conference theme, “Realigning Corporate Communication as a Strategic Driver of Institutional Effectiveness and Public Trust,” as timely and relevant.
She commended the Comptroller-General for fostering a communication culture that has strengthened public engagement and also praised the National Public Relations Officer for building on that foundation through strategic communication initiatives.
Earlier, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Chief Superintendent of Customs Emmanuel Tangwa, said the decision to host the conference in Port Harcourt reflected the Service’s recognition of the South-South’s strategic role in Nigeria’s economy.
“This engagement is more than a meeting. It provides an opportunity to share our achievements, explain our policies and correct misconceptions,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, Paul Bazia, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for maintaining an open and productive relationship with the media.
He described transparency as the foundation of public confidence, adding, “Our responsibility is to communicate the truth and sustain public trust. As journalists in Rivers State, we will continue to work with the Nigeria Customs Service to ensure information is disseminated accurately, promptly and responsibly.”
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JULY 24TH 2026)
