The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken a major step toward strengthening its strategic communication capacity with the induction of 70 Public Relations officers into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), marking the Service’s first mass induction into the professional body in over a decade.
The induction ceremony, held on Monday at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, underscores the Service’s commitment to building a highly skilled team of certified communication professionals capable of effectively projecting its reforms, operations and achievements.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the induction as a strategic investment in the future of the Service’s communication architecture. He said the Customs Service’s transformation including its recognition as one of Nigeria’s best-performing government agencies in the Ease of Doing Business initiative—was driven by deliberate reforms that require professional communicators to tell the Service’s success stories with credibility and purpose.
As the Service embraces technology-driven Customs administration, Adeniyi urged the newly inducted officers to remain vigilant against misinformation, manage public perception effectively and sustain stakeholders’ confidence.
“Rumours will be heard, narratives will be pushed, so be ready to communicate with clarity and take the necessary measures to address misinformation 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 the programme as a legacy project whose impact should be amplified through ethical and strategic communication.
President and Chairman of the NIPR Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for prioritising professionalism and investing in the certification of its communication officers. He noted that under Adeniyi’s leadership, the Service has evolved into a nationally respected institution renowned for its reforms, corporate excellence and increasing global relevance.
“You can no longer dismiss matters concerning the Nigeria Customs Service. You must be proud of this as a Nigerian,” Neliaku said.
Retired Comptroller of Customs and former National Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah, urged the newly inducted officers to uphold the ethics of the profession by remaining truthful, accurate and responsible in their communication. He also encouraged continuous professional development through seminars, workshops and active participation in NIPR activities, stressing that effective crisis communication requires composure, empathy and strategic thinking.
Earlier, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Aliyu Maiwada, attributed the milestone to the unwavering support of the Comptroller-General and the foundational contributions of former Customs spokespersons who laid the groundwork for the unit’s growth.
The induction of the 70 officers represents another milestone in the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing reform agenda, reinforcing its commitment to institutionalising professionalism and excellence in strategic communication
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