By Precious Akutamadu
Port Harcourt: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says stronger collaboration with the media is critical to sustaining its ongoing reforms in trade facilitation, border management and innovation, and enhancing public trust and transparency.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, said this during a media briefing held in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, ahead of the 2026 Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Week.
Maiwada disclosed the theme of the programme as “Realigning Corporate Communication as a Strategic Driver of Institutional Effectiveness and Public Trust.”
He described the media as a strategic partner in the Service’s reform agenda, noting that the success of the reforms depended largely on accurate, timely and balanced reportage.
According to him, journalists serve as the bridge between government institutions and the public by communicating customs procedures, trade regulations and enforcement activities to stakeholders.
“The media serves as the bridge through which government policies, customs procedures, trade regulations and enforcement activities are communicated to stakeholders and the general public.
“This can only be achieved through balanced reportage,” he said.
Maiwada added that effective communication remained central to the success of Customs operations, stressing that public trust was the foundation of every effective institution.
Earlier, the Acting Coordinator of Customs Zone C, Asst.Comptroller-General Pascal Chibuoke, said the annual Public Relations’ Week was designed to strengthen collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the media.
He described journalists as strategic partners in national development, saying objective and responsible journalism was essential to promoting transparency, accountability and public confidence in the service.
Chibuoke commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for approving the programme, describing it as a demonstration of the Service’s commitment to openness, stakeholder engagement and effective public communication.
He also applauded Maiwada for introducing innovative communication strategies that had strengthened the image of the Service and increased public understanding of its strategic responsibilities and ongoing reforms.
Chibuoke expressed confidence that the week-long engagements would foster productive discussions capable of deepening collaboration between the media and the Service.
In addition, the Chief Superintendent of Customs, Emmanuel Tangwa, who is the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the week, said the media engagement reflected the Service’s commitment to professionalism, transparency and accountability.
Tangwa said that the media briefing was the first strategic interface organised by the National Public Relations Office for journalists from the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones.
He added that Port Harcourt was selected because of its strategic position as a major maritime and commercial hub.
Tangwa urged journalists to sustain factual and development-oriented reporting that would strengthen public confidence in the Service and support Nigeria’s economic growth.
He said the media parley formed part of activities lined up for the week, adding that the programme would explore the role of strategic communication in strengthening institutional effectiveness, stakeholder engagement and public confidence.
In his remarks, Mr Paul Bazia, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers Chapter, reaffirmed journalists’ commitment to promoting transparency and national development through responsible reporting.
Bazia said the council had shifted its editorial focus from crisis reporting to development journalism, stressing that truth, openness and mutual understanding remained essential to building and sustaining public trust. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)