By Adebola Muili
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) have moved to deepen collaboration in media, digital communication and professional development.
The development followed a meeting between executive members of ACSPN and the NCS at the Service’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, August 31, 2026.
In a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the NCS National Public Relations Officer and spokesperson, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, said the engagement focused on exploring areas of stronger institutional cooperation between the two organisations.
Receiving the ACSPN delegation on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, Maiwada stressed the strategic role of effective communication in communicating and sustaining institutional reforms.
He identified the Service’s monthly newsletter, social media platforms and data analytics as key tools being deployed in its communication strategy.
Maiwada said, “In every reform, communication must be embedded to achieve the desired result.”
He also disclosed that the Service had extended its communication efforts to the creative industry through its one-off movie, Beyond the Badge, and its 79-episode movie series, Novera, which he said had begun generating revenue for the NCS while creating employment opportunities in the entertainment industry.
The Customs spokesperson further disclosed plans to expand the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN) to Lagos.
He added that the NCS would pursue corporate membership of ACSPN and encourage its Public Relations officers to join the association.
Earlier, the President of ACSPN, Professor Rotimi Williams Olatunji, commended Maiwada for his continued support as an ambassador of the association and welcomed the proposed institutional partnership.
Olatunji pledged the association’s readiness to support NCS personnel seeking higher academic and professional qualifications.
He said, “When communication scholars are given the opportunity to lead organisations, they excel because they remain conscious of public needs, sensibilities, and sensitivities.”
The ACSPN president spoke during a joint press briefing at the NCS headquarters auditorium, where the association announced its 2026 National Conference.
The conference, themed “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruptions and Dynamics of Communication,” will examine the impact of artificial intelligence, social media and digital platforms on political communication ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Olatunji called for stronger synergy between communication scholars and media practitioners to promote fact-based public discourse and combat misinformation, disinformation and AI-manipulated content, including deepfakes.
He urged media organisations to institutionalise fact-checking mechanisms to help citizens navigate the complexities of electoral communication in the digital age.
The visit concluded with a guided tour of key facilities at the NCS headquarters, including the Information and Communication Technology (ICT)/Modernisation Department and the NCBN studios, where the delegation was briefed on the Service’s digital operations and media strategy.
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