NCS inducts 70 public relations officers into NIPR to boost strategic communication

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has inducted 70 of its Public Relations officers into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in a move aimed at strengthening strategic communication and professionalising its public relations workforce.

The mass induction, held on Monday at the Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, is the first of its kind by the Service since 2013 and underscores its commitment to building a corps of certified communication professionals capable of effectively projecting the agency’s reforms, operations and achievements.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the induction as a strategic investment in the future of the Service’s communication architecture.

According to him, the transformation recorded by the Service, including its recognition as the best-performing government agency in Ease of Doing Business, was driven by deliberate reforms that require skilled professionals to communicate the agency’s successes with credibility, clarity and purpose.

Adeniyi noted that as the Service continues its transition to a technology-driven Customs administration, Public Relations officers must play a leading role in countering misinformation, managing public perception and sustaining stakeholders’ confidence.

“Rumours will be heard, narratives will be pushed, so be ready to use your communication with clarity and the necessary measures so rumours can be addressed swiftly and decisively,” he charged the newly inducted officers.

The Customs boss also disclosed that the Service’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, Customs Cares, is set to receive recognition at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, describing it as a legacy project whose impact should be amplified through ethical and professional communication.

In his remarks, NIPR President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for prioritising professionalism and investing in the development of certified communication practitioners.

He said the Service, under Adeniyi’s leadership, has evolved into a national institution admired for its reforms, corporate excellence and growing influence within the global Customs community.

“You can no longer dismiss matters concerning the Service. You must be proud of this as a Nigerian,” Neliaku said.

Also speaking, retired Comptroller of Customs and former National Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah, urged the newly inducted officers to uphold the ethics of the profession by remaining truthful, accurate and responsible in their communication.

He encouraged them to pursue continuous professional development through seminars, workshops and active participation in NIPR activities, stressing that effective crisis communication requires composure, empathy and strategic thinking.

Earlier, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Aliyu Maiwada, said the milestone was made possible by the commitment of the Comptroller-General as well as the contributions of former Customs spokespersons who helped develop the Public Relations unit.

The induction of the 70 officers marks another milestone in the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing reform agenda and reinforces its commitment to institutionalising excellence in strategic communication while strengthening public confidence in the agency.