Customs, Communication Scholars Forge Stronger Ties on Digital Media, Professional Development


By Aviashima Toom, Abuja 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has pledged to deepen its collaboration with the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) in the areas of media, digital communication, research, and professional development.

The commitment was made on Monday, August 31, 2026, when the executive members of ACSPN visited the NCS National Headquarters in Abuja to explore opportunities for institutional partnership.

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 importance of effective communication in driving institutional reforms.

Maiwada said the Service had continued to deploy its monthly newsletter, social media platforms and data analytics as key tools for communicating its activities and reforms to the public.
“In every reform, communication must be embedded to achieve the desired result,” he said.

He also highlighted the NCS's growing engagement with the creative industry, citing the one-off movie Beyond the Badge and the 79-episode series Novera as initiatives that have begun generating revenue for the Service while creating employment opportunities in the entertainment sector.

According to him, the Service is also planning to expand the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN) to Lagos as part of efforts to strengthen its media and public communication operations.
Maiwada further disclosed that the NCS intends 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 continued support for the association and described the proposed institutional partnership as a welcome development.

Olatunji pledged ACSPN’s support for NCS personnel seeking to advance their 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, ACSPN also announced its 2026 National Conference, with the theme: “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruptions and Dynamics of Communication.”
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The conference is expected to focus on the growing influence of artificial intelligence, social media and digital platforms on political communication, particularly ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Olatunji, while addressing journalists, called for stronger collaboration between communication scholars and media practitioners to promote fact-based public discourse and tackle the spread of misinformation, disinformation and AI-generated content, including deepfakes.

He urged media organisations to institutionalise fact-checking mechanisms to enable citizens make informed decisions amid the increasing complexity of digital and electoral communication.

The engagement 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 Customs Service’s digital operations, technological innovations and evolving media communication strategy.

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