The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) have expressed readiness to deepen collaboration in media, digital communication and professional development.
The two organisations made the commitment when members of the ACSPN executive paid a visit to the NCS National Headquarters in Abuja.

Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the National Public Relations Officer and spokesperson of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, said effective communication remained central to the success of institutional reforms.
Maiwada said the service had continued to strengthen its communication strategy through its monthly newsletter, social media platforms and the use of data analytics to engage stakeholders and communicate its activities.

He said, “In every reform, communication must be embedded to achieve the desired result,” stressing the importance of strategic communication in building public understanding and support for government policies.
The Customs spokesman also highlighted the service’s growing engagement with the creative industry, citing the production of the one-off movie, Beyond the Badge, and the 79-episode movie series, Novera, which he said had generated revenue and employment opportunities.

He disclosed that the service was also planning to expand the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN) to Lagos as part of efforts to strengthen its communication reach.
Maiwada said the NCS was considering corporate membership of ACSPN and would encourage its public relations officers to become members of the association to enhance professional development and knowledge sharing.
Responding, the President of ACSPN, Prof. Rotimi Williams Olatunji, lauded the Customs management for its communication initiatives and expressed the association’s readiness to support the service in strengthening its media and communication capacity.

Olatunji also offered the association’s support to Customs personnel interested in pursuing 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 stressed the need for stronger synergy between communication scholars and media practitioners, particularly in addressing the challenges posed by misinformation, disinformation and artificial intelligence-generated content.

He called for more fact-based public discourse and the institutionalisation of fact-checking mechanisms to tackle the spread of false and manipulated information.
The two organisations also used the occasion to announce the 2026 ACSPN National Conference, with the theme, “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruptions and Dynamics of Communication.”

The conference, according to the association, will provide a platform for scholars, media professionals and other stakeholders to examine the changing communication environment, particularly the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on elections and democratic processes.
The visit ended with a tour of the NCS Information and Communication Technology/Modernisation Department and the NCBN studios.