NIPR induction: Adeniyi charges 70 customs PR officers to ‘counter rumours with facts’

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has charged newly inducted Public Relations officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to confront misinformation with facts and uphold the highest standards of professionalism as the Service deepens its ongoing reforms.

Adeniyi gave the charge on Monday in Abuja during the induction of 70 Customs Public Relations officers into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), describing the exercise as a strategic investment in strengthening the Service’s communication architecture and institutional reputation.

The induction marks the first mass admission of Customs Public Relations personnel into the NIPR since 2013 and is expected to boost the Service’s capacity for strategic communication, stakeholder engagement and reputation management.

Addressing the officers, the Customs boss said the rapid transformation of the Service through digitalisation, trade facilitation and institutional reforms has made effective communication more critical than ever.

He noted that as the Nigeria Customs Service continues to modernise its operations, communication professionals must be prepared to counter false narratives capable of undermining public confidence.

“Rumours will be heard, narratives will be pushed, so be ready to communicate with clarity and ensure that misinformation is addressed swiftly and decisively,” Adeniyi said.

He explained that the Service’s recent achievements, including its recognition as one of the Federal Government’s top-performing agencies in ease of doing business, were products of deliberate reforms that deserve accurate and professional communication.

According to him, Public Relations officers now occupy a strategic position in projecting the Service’s accomplishments, managing crises and sustaining stakeholders’ confidence in Customs operations.

The Comptroller-General also disclosed that the Service’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, Customs Cares, is set to receive recognition at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, describing the programme as a legacy project whose impact should be effectively communicated to Nigerians and the international community.

Dr. Neliaku

In his remarks, President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for investing in the professional development of its communication personnel.

He said the Service has evolved into one of Nigeria’s most respected public institutions, attributing the transformation to the reform-driven leadership of the Comptroller-General.

“You can no longer ignore matters concerning the Nigeria Customs Service. The institution has become a reference point for reforms, professionalism and corporate excellence,” Neliaku said.

Also speaking, former National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service and retired Comptroller, Joseph Attah, urged the newly inducted officers to uphold the ethics of the Public Relations profession by remaining truthful, accurate and responsible in all official communications.

He encouraged them to embrace continuous learning through seminars, workshops and active participation in NIPR programmes, stressing that credibility remains the greatest asset of every communication professional.

Maiwada

Earlier, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller Aliyu Maiwada, described the induction as a landmark achievement made possible through the commitment of the Comptroller-General and the contributions of former Customs spokespersons who laid the foundation for the growth of the Service’s Public Relations Unit.

He said the certification of the officers reflects the Service’s determination to institutionalise professionalism and align its communication strategy with global best practices.

The induction of the 70 officers is expected to strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service’s capacity for public engagement, crisis communication and stakeholder relations as it advances its reform agenda and builds a more transparent, technology-driven and citizen-focused Customs administration.