By Peace Udugba
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its partnership with the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), with both organisations exploring greater collaboration in media, digital communication, professional development and institutional communication.
The partnership discussions took place on Monday, August 31, 2026, when 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 and spokesperson for the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, underscored the strategic importance of effective communication in communicating institutional reforms.
Maiwada highlighted the NCS monthly newsletter, social media platforms and data analytics as important tools being deployed by the Service to improve public communication and engagement.
He said communication must be integrated into every reform process to ensure that institutional changes achieve their desired impact.
The Customs spokesperson also highlighted the Service’s growing engagement with the creative industry, citing its one-off movie, Beyond the Badge, and the 79-episode movie series, Novera.
According to him, the initiatives are beginning to generate revenue for the NCS while also creating employment opportunities within Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Maiwada further disclosed plans to expand the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN) to Lagos.
He also announced the Service’s intention to pursue corporate membership of ACSPN and encourage its Public Relations officers to become members of the professional association.
Earlier, the President of ACSPN, Professor Rotimi Williams Olatunji, commended Maiwada for his longstanding support for the association and described the proposed institutional partnership as a welcome development.
Olatunji pledged ACSPN’s readiness to support NCS 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.
ACSPN Unveils 2026 National Conference
During a joint press briefing at the NCS headquarters auditorium, ACSPN formally announced its 2026 National Conference, themed “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruptions and Dynamics of Communication.”
The conference is expected to examine the growing influence of artificial intelligence, social media and other digital platforms on political communication ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Addressing journalists, Olatunji called for stronger collaboration between communication scholars and media practitioners to promote fact-based public discourse and tackle the growing challenges of misinformation, disinformation and AI-manipulated content, including deepfakes.
He also urged media organisations to institutionalise fact-checking mechanisms to help citizens navigate the increasingly complex digital information environment, particularly during election periods.
The visit ended with a guided tour of key facilities at the NCS headquarters, including the Information and Communication Technology (ICT)/Modernisation Department and the NCBN studios.
The ACSPN delegation was briefed on the Service’s digital operations, technological initiatives and media communication strategy.
The engagement underscored the growing importance of professional collaboration between communication experts and government institutions in strengthening public information, digital communication and trust in the era of rapid technological change.
