The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken a major step towards strengthening its strategic communication capacity with the induction of 70 Public Relations officers into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the Service’s first mass induction into the professional body since 2013.
The induction ceremony, held at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, underscores the Service’s commitment to professionalising its Public Relations workforce and equipping officers with the skills to effectively communicate its reforms, operations and institutional achievements.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the induction as a strategic investment in the Service’s communication architecture. He said the Customs Service’s transformation, including its recognition as the best-performing government agency on Ease of Doing Business, was driven by deliberate reforms that require skilled professionals to project the Service’s achievements with clarity, credibility and professionalism.
Adeniyi urged the newly inducted officers to remain proactive in tackling misinformation, managing public perception and sustaining stakeholders’ confidence as the Service advances its technology-driven Customs administration.
“Rumours will be heard, narratives will be pushed, so be ready to communicate with clarity and ensure misinformation is addressed swiftly and decisively,” he charged.
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 it as a legacy project whose impact should continue to be amplified through strategic and ethical communication.
President and Chairman of the NIPR Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for prioritising professionalism and investing in certified communication practitioners. He noted that under Adeniyi’s leadership, the Service has emerged as a model institution recognised for its reforms, corporate excellence and growing global reputation.
Former National Public Relations Officer of the Service, retired Comptroller Joseph Attah, advised the officers to uphold the ethics of the profession by ensuring truthfulness, accuracy and responsibility in their engagements. He also encouraged continuous professional development through seminars, workshops and active participation in NIPR programmes.
Earlier, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Aliyu Maiwada, attributed the achievement to the unwavering support of the Comptroller-General and the contributions of former Customs spokespersons who laid the foundation for the growth of the Public Relations Unit.
The induction of the 70 officers mark another milestone in the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing reform agenda and reinforced its commitment to institutional excellence through professional and strategic communication.
