By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the media as a strategic partner in promoting stakeholder awareness, public trust and national development.
The renewed commitment formed the focus of a media parley held on Monday at the Kano/Jigawa Area Command Headquarters, Abdullahi Dikko Inde Conference Hall, Bompai, Kano. The event, organised by the National Public Relations Unit under the theme 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 (NUJ) from Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna and Katsina states.
Speaking during the engagement, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, described the media as a critical partner in nation-building and public enlightenment.
He said the media remains a vital bridge through which government policies, Customs procedures, trade regulations and enforcement activities are communicated to stakeholders and the general public.
Maiwada stated 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.
According to him, the reforms are aimed at building a more responsive, accountable, technology-driven and people-oriented Customs administration capable of supporting national economic growth.
He urged journalists to sustain professionalism, fairness and responsible reportage, noting that accurate and timely media coverage has become increasingly important 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,” he said, while stressing the Service’s commitment to countering misinformation through stronger collaboration with credible media organisations and multilingual communication strategies.
In his goodwill message, the Acting Customs Area Controller of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, described the engagement as timely and essential for strengthening institutional communication and public trust.
He noted that the partnership between Customs and the media remains indispensable in achieving effective revenue generation, trade facilitation and border security objectives.
Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mustapha Muhammad, commended the Nigeria 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 during which 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.
