By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) are set to deepen their relationship, with emphasis on media, digital communication and professional development.
The proposed partnership was discussed on Monday, August 31, 2026, when the executive members of ACSPN visited the NCS National Headquarters in Abuja.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, said communication had become an important part of the Customs reform process.
Maiwada said the Service had continued to deploy its monthly newsletter, social media platforms and data analytics to improve the way it communicates its activities and reforms to the public.
“In every reform, communication must be embedded to achieve the desired result,” he said.
The Customs spokesman also drew attention to the Service’s involvement in the creative industry, particularly the one off movie, Beyond the Badge, and the 79 episode movie series, Novera.
According to him, the productions have started generating revenue for the NCS while also providing employment opportunities in the entertainment industry.
Maiwada disclosed that the Service was planning to extend the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN) to Lagos. He also said the NCS would pursue corporate membership of ACSPN and encourage its Public Relations officers to join the association.
Earlier, ACSPN President, Professor Rotimi Williams Olatunji, commended Maiwada for his support for the association and welcomed the proposed institutional relationship with the Customs Service.
Olatunji said ACSPN was ready to assist Customs personnel seeking higher academic and professional qualifications.
“When communication scholars are given the opportunity to lead organisations, they excel because they remain conscious of public needs, sensibilities, and sensitivities,” he said.
At a joint press briefing held at the NCS headquarters auditorium, Olatunji announced the association’s 2026 National Conference, which will focus on “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruptions and Dynamics of Communication.”
He said the conference would examine the effect of artificial intelligence, social media and digital platforms on political communication as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Olatunji also called for closer cooperation between communication scholars and media practitioners, particularly in tackling misinformation, disinformation and AI generated materials such as deepfakes.
He urged media organisations to make fact checking part of their regular editorial work, saying citizens needed reliable information to make informed decisions in an increasingly digital electoral environment.
The ACSPN delegation later toured the NCS Information and Communication Technology and Modernisation Department and the studios of the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network, where officials explained the Service’s digital operations, broadcasting activities and communication strategy.
