Customs Promotes Strategic Communication, Digital Reforms at ACSPN Conference


By Aviashima Toom, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has underscored the importance of strategic communication in driving institutional reforms, facilitating trade, boosting revenue generation and strengthening engagement with stakeholders.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, stated this on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, while representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the 13th Annual Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) at the National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja.

Maiwada said effective communication remained critical to the successful implementation of the Customs Service's mandate, particularly as the institution continues to adopt technology and innovative approaches to modernise its operations.

“Our critical role in trade facilitation, revenue generation and anti-smuggling cannot be effective without effective communication,” he said.

He identified B’Odogwu, the Service's digital modernisation platform, as a major component of its ongoing digital transformation agenda, describing it as an innovative trade model that is attracting attention beyond Nigeria.

The Customs spokesman also highlighted the Service's “Town and Gown” initiative, which seeks to strengthen the relationship between academic institutions and professional practice in communication.

According to him, the initiative has already commenced at Bayero University, Kano, and in Port Harcourt, with plans to expand academic engagement with the Customs Service in 2027.

Maiwada said closer collaboration with communication scholars and professionals would enable the Service to draw from contemporary research, professional expertise and emerging communication technologies, while allowing academic institutions to gain practical insights into Customs operations and institutional communication.

The conference brought together communication scholars, media professionals and institutional stakeholders to examine developments in the communication environment and the impact of emerging technologies on democracy and electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In his opening remarks, ACSPN President, Professor Rotimi Olatunji, stressed the importance of informed citizens, credible media and transparent institutions in sustaining constitutional democracy.

A keynote presentation delivered on behalf of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Sani Adam, also highlighted emerging challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence, including deepfakes, AI-generated content and candidate impersonation.

The NCS participation followed an earlier meeting on Monday, August 31, 2026, when the Service hosted the ACSPN leadership at its National Headquarters in Abuja to discuss possible areas of collaboration in digital communication, media engagement, professional development and stronger links between academia and the Customs Service.

The conference subsequently featured technical sessions on electoral communication and the challenges of the digital age before concluding with a dinner and award ceremony recognising outstanding contributions to communication scholarship and professional practice.

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