…As Adeogun Wins IMPR 2026 Young Communicator Award
By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service has highlighted measures being implemented to strengthen integrity, transparency and accountability within the Service, saying its ongoing reforms are helping to check corruption and encourage ethical conduct among officers.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, stated this on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, during the 4th Economic Confidential Lecture and 6th National Spokespersons Awards organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited.
The event, themed “Anti-Corruption Reforms, Economic Stability and Effective Communication,” brought together government officials, anti-corruption practitioners, communication professionals and other stakeholders.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the event, Maiwada said integrity remained a fundamental pillar of the World Customs Organisation, adding that the Nigeria Customs Service had continued to align its operations with international standards through integrity perception surveys, institutional reforms and collaboration with relevant government agencies.
According to him, feedback from integrity perception surveys conducted among internal and external stakeholders had been used to guide some of the Service’s reforms, modernisation projects and engagements with other institutions.
“The World Customs Organisation is very intentional about the integrity of Customs officers worldwide. Nigeria Customs has conducted integrity perception surveys involving both internal and external stakeholders, and the feedback from those exercises has continued to shape our reforms, our modernisation projects and even our collaboration with other government agencies,” Maiwada said.
He also disclosed that the Code of Conduct Bureau had recently visited the Service as part of efforts to strengthen ethical conduct among Customs officers.
“Recently, the Code of Conduct Bureau visited the Service as part of efforts to strengthen ethical conduct among our officers,” he added.
Maiwada’s remarks came against the backdrop of discussions at the event on the effect of corruption on economic growth, public institutions and national development.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Adamu Aliyu, described corruption as a global challenge that distorts economies, fuels inequality and undermines national security.
Aliyu said corruption was not peculiar to Nigeria or Africa, pointing to cases in other parts of the world to show that corrupt practices cut across national boundaries.
The event also featured the presentation of the Young Communicator of the Year award to Assistant Superintendent of Customs I Folusho Adeogun, Liaison Officer of the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network.
Adeogun dedicated the award to the Nigeria Customs Service and said the recognition would spur him to contribute more to the institution.
“This award will encourage me to contribute even more to the Service and ensure that I continue to play my role effectively. It has energised me to do more,” he said.
Congratulating Adeogun, Maiwada described the award as recognition of his commitment, professionalism and hard work.
“I am particularly delighted to see one of our young officers receive this recognition. No amount of mentorship can produce results unless the individual is willing to learn and improve himself. Adeogun has demonstrated commitment, professionalism and hard work,” he said.
The jury chairperson, Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi, said the awards had grown beyond an annual recognition programme into a platform for promoting professionalism, effective communication and public trust.
