The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said effective communication is critical to the success of its mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation and anti-smuggling.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, stated this  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) in Abuja.

Maiwada said technological and institutional reforms could only achieve their intended objectives when properly communicated to stakeholders.

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

He explained that the Service had continued to deploy technology and innovative approaches to improve its operations, citing B’Odogwu as a major component of its digital transformation agenda.

According to him, B’Odogwu represents an innovative trade model that is attracting attention beyond Nigeria, stressing that its effectiveness would depend not only on technology but also on how well the reforms were understood and embraced by stakeholders.

Maiwada also highlighted the Service’s “Town and Gown” initiative, designed to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and professional practice in communication.

He said the initiative had commenced at Bayero University, Kano, and in Port Harcourt, with plans to deepen the integration of academia into Customs’ engagements in 2027.

The Customs spokesman said stronger collaboration with communication scholars and professionals would enable the Service to benefit from contemporary research, professional expertise and emerging communication technologies.

He added that the partnership would equally provide academic institutions with practical insights into Customs operations and institutional communication.

The conference, which brought together communication scholars, professionals and institutional stakeholders, examined the changing communication environment and the implications of emerging technologies for democracy and electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In his opening remarks, the ACSPN President, Prof. Rotimi Olatunji, stressed the importance of informed citizens, credible media and transparent institutions to the sustenance of constitutional democracy.

A keynote presentation delivered on behalf of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Sani Adam, also highlighted emerging threats to electoral integrity, including deepfakes, AI-generated content and candidate impersonation.

Maiwada said the NCS’ participation in the conference was part of its broader effort to strengthen engagement with communication scholars and professionals.

He recalled that the Service had hosted the leadership of ACSPN at its National Headquarters in Abuja on August 31 to explore collaboration in digital communication, media engagement, professional development and stronger ties between academia and the Customs Service.

He said the engagement would be sustained as the Service seeks to strengthen communication around its reforms and improve relationships with stakeholders.