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lThe Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) have strengthened efforts towards a strategic partnership aimed at advancing media engagement, digital communication and professional development.
The collaboration was explored on Monday, August 31, 2026, when executive members of ACSPN visited the Nigeria Customs Service National Headquarters in Abuja.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, underscored the importance of effective communication in driving institutional reforms.
Maiwada said the NCS had continued to deploy several communication platforms, including its monthly newsletter, social media channels and data analytics, to promote public understanding of the Service’s activities and reforms.
According to him, communication must remain an integral part of every reform process to ensure its success and acceptance by the public.
“In every reform, communication must be embedded to achieve the desired result,” he said.
The Customs spokesperson also highlighted the Service’s growing engagement with Nigeria’s creative industry, noting that its movie projects, including the one-off production, Beyond the Badge, and the 79-episode series, Novera, were contributing to revenue generation while creating employment opportunities in the entertainment sector.
Maiwada further disclosed plans by the Service to expand the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN) to Lagos.
He also announced the Service’s intention to pursue corporate membership of ACSPN and encourage its Public Relations officers to join the association as part of efforts to promote continuous professional development.
Earlier, the President of ACSPN, Professor Rotimi Williams Olatunji, commended Maiwada for his continued support and contributions to the association, describing him as a strong ,
Olatunji welcomed the proposed partnership and assured the Nigeria Customs Service of ACSPN’s readiness to support officers seeking higher academic and professional qualifications.
He said communication professionals often bring a strong understanding of public expectations and sensitivities to leadership and organisational management.
“When communication scholars are given the opportunity to lead organisations, they excel because they remain conscious of public needs, sensibilities and sensitivities,” Olatunji said.
At a joint press briefing held at the NCS headquarters auditorium, ACSPN also announced its 2026 National Conference with the theme: “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruptions and Dynamics of Communication.”
The conference is expected to examine the growing influence of artificial intelligence, social media and other digital platforms on political communication, particularly as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Olatunji called for closer collaboration between communication scholars and media practitioners to promote fact-based public discourse and tackle the growing threat of misinformation, disinformation and artificial intelligence-generated content, including deepfakes.
He also urged media organisations to institutionalise fact-checking mechanisms to enable citizens make informed decisions amid the increasing complexity of digital and electoral communication.
The visit ended with a guided tour of key facilities at the Customs headquarters, including the Information and Communication Technology (ICT)/Modernisation Department and the studios of the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network.
During the tour, members of the ACSPN delegation were briefed on the Service’s digital operations and evolving media and communication strategies.