The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the media as part of efforts to enhance stakeholder awareness, build public trust and support national development.
The commitment was highlighted during a media parley organised by the National Public Relations Unit of the Service on Monday, May 25, 2026, at the Kano/Jigawa Area Command Headquarters, Abdullahi Dikko Inde Conference Hall, Bompai, Kano.
The event, themed “Building Synergy Between the Media and Customs for Enhanced Stakeholders’ Awareness and National Development,” brought together senior Customs officers, journalists and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists from Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna and Katsina states.
Speaking at the event, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, DCC Abdullahi Maiwada, described the media as a strategic partner in nation-building and public enlightenment.
According to him, the media served as a vital bridge for communicating government policies, Customs procedures, trade regulations and enforcement activities to stakeholders and the wider public.
Maiwada said that under the leadership of Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, the Service has intensified reforms in trade modernisation, digital transformation, intelligence-driven enforcement, stakeholder engagement and institutional transparency.
He explained that the reforms are aimed at building a more responsive, accountable and technology-driven Customs administration capable of supporting national economic growth.
The Customs spokesperson urged journalists to sustain professionalism, fairness and responsible reportage, noting that accurate and timely media coverage remains essential as Customs operations continue to evolve.
“We value this relationship and will continue to work closely with journalists to ensure accurate and balanced reporting of Customs activities,” Maiwada said.
He added that the Service was also strengthening collaboration with credible media organisations and deploying multilingual communication strategies to counter misinformation and improve public understanding of Customs operations.
In his goodwill message, Acting Customs Area Controller of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, described the engagement as timely and necessary for strengthening institutional communication and public trust.
He said the partnership between Customs and the media remains indispensable in achieving effective revenue generation, trade facilitation and border security objectives.
Also speaking, Vice Chairman of the Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mustapha Muhammad, commended the Customs Service for organising the engagement, describing the media and Customs as “two sides of the same coin.”
Muhammad reaffirmed journalists’ commitment to professionalism, ethical journalism and responsible reporting, while praising the Kano/Jigawa Area Command for maintaining cordial relations with media practitioners.
The parley also featured an interactive session where journalists engaged Customs officials on operational procedures, trade facilitation processes, enforcement activities and stakeholder concerns.
Participants emphasised the need for sustained dialogue, trust and professionalism in fostering a productive partnership between the media and the Nigeria Customs Service.
