THE Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, has called for a strategic partnership with the media to ensure the successful implementation of the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), describing the role of journalists as indispensable to the success of ongoing reforms.

The CGC made the call at the opening of a two day training workshop for journalists Thursday in Abuja.

Adeniyi stated that the project is a comprehensive, technology driven initiative designed to overhaul the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) processes, eliminate inefficiencies, and create a predictable trading environment.

The Comptroller-General noted that while infrastructure and technology are critical, the success of a reform of such magnitude depends significantly on stakeholder understanding, acceptance, and participation.

According to him, “The Trade Modernisation Project stands at the centre of this transformation, it represents a comprehensive initiative designed to overhaul our processes, eliminate inefficiencies, and create a more seamless and predictable trading environment.

“Through the deployment of modern digital platforms, automation of procedures, and integration of systems, we are laying the foundation for a customs administration that is not only efficient but also globally competitive.”

He further charged the media to serve as a bridge between the institution and the public, stressing that accurate reportage is essential to maintaining public trust.

“As key partners in national development, the media serve as the bridge between institutions and the public.

“You shape narratives, influence perception, and provide the platform through which policies and reforms are interpreted and understood. It is, therefore, essential that you are well informed, properly equipped, and actively engaged,” he added.

Adeniyi said his administration is commited to building a Customs Service that is “efficient, transparent, technology-driven, and responsive to the needs of the nation.”

In the same vein, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, explained that the workshop was specifically designed to enhance media knowledge of the Service’s evolution.

Maiwada pointed that “As the Service continues to evolve in response to the dynamics of global trade, technological advancement, and national economic priorities, it has become imperative to carry critical stakeholders, particularly the media, along in this journey of transformation.”

He noted that the Trade Modernisation Project represents a significant milestone in deploying solutions that simplify processes and improve revenue collection.

The workshop, organised in collaboration with Trade Modernisation Project Limited, aims to provide journalists with in depth knowledge of the project’s objectives, implementation framework, and its broader implications for national development.