Customs reaffirms commitment to integrity, transparency, accountability

By Onu Okorie

Nigeria Customs Service NCS has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening integrity, transparency and accountability through sustained institutional reforms aimed at mitigating corruption and promoting ethical conduct among its officers.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, stated this on Thursday in Abuja while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 4th Economic Confidential Lecture and 6th National Spokespersons Awards organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited IMPR.
The event, held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, was themed, “Anti-Corruption Reforms, Economic Stability and Effective Communication.”
Maiwada said integrity remained a fundamental pillar of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), adding that the NCS had continued to align its operations with international best practices through integrity perception surveys, institutional reforms and collaboration with anti-corruption agencies.
He explained that the Service had conducted integrity perception surveys involving both internal and external stakeholders, noting that the feedback obtained had continued to influence its reforms, modernisation programmes and engagements with other government agencies.
“The World Customs Organisation is very intentional about the integrity of Customs officers worldwide,” he said.
According to him, the Service had also strengthened its collaboration with relevant institutions, including the Code of Conduct Bureau, which recently visited the NCS as part of efforts to promote ethical conduct among officers.
Maiwada said the ongoing measures were designed to strengthen institutional integrity and ensure that officers operated in line with professional and ethical standards.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Adamu Aliyu, described corruption as a global challenge capable of distorting economies, worsening inequality and undermining national security.
Aliyu stressed that corruption was not peculiar to Nigeria or Africa, pointing to cases in other parts of the world as evidence that corrupt practices cut across national and geographical boundaries.
Meanwhile, the event provided an additional moment of recognition for the Nigeria Customs Service as Assistant Superintendent of Customs I Folusho Adeogun, Liaison Officer of the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN), emerged Young Communicator of the Year at the 6th National Spokespersons Awards.
Receiving the award, Adeogun dedicated the recognition to the NCS and pledged to contribute further to the growth of the institution through effective communication.
“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 a recognition of the officer’s 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,” he said.
Maiwada added that Adeogun had demonstrated the commitment and professionalism required to excel in his career.
The jury chairperson, Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi, said the awards had evolved beyond an annual recognition programme into a platform for promoting professionalism, effective communication and public trust.
She noted that effective communication remained critical to building confidence between institutions and the public, particularly in an era when transparency and accountability were increasingly demanded from public institutions.