Customs Service Deepens Digital Reform, Stakeholder Engagement Through Strategic Communication
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed the importance of strategic communication in driving institutional reforms, improving trade facilitation, boosting revenue generation and strengthening engagement with stakeholders, as it highlighted its B’Odogwu digital modernisation platform.
The Service’s National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, stated this on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, 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), held at the National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja.
Maiwada said effective communication remained critical to the successful implementation of the Customs Service’s mandate, particularly as the institution continues to introduce technology-driven reforms to modernise its operations.
“Our critical role in trade facilitation, revenue generation and anti-smuggling cannot be effective without effective communication,” he said.
He explained that reforms in technology and institutional processes must be effectively communicated to stakeholders to ensure understanding, adoption and sustained support.
According to him, B’Odogwu represents a major component of the NCS digital transformation agenda, providing an innovative trade model that is attracting attention beyond Nigeria.
Maiwada also highlighted the Service’s “Town and Gown” initiative, which seeks to strengthen collaboration between academic institutions and the Customs profession by connecting communication scholarship with practical institutional experience.
He disclosed that the initiative had already commenced at Bayero University, Kano, and in Port Harcourt, with plans to expand and deepen the integration of academia into Customs engagements in 2027.
The Customs spokesman said closer collaboration with communication scholars and professionals would enable the Service to leverage contemporary research, professional expertise and emerging communication technologies in strengthening its institutional communication strategy.
He added that the partnership would equally give academic institutions greater access to practical knowledge of Customs operations and the communication challenges associated with institutional reforms.
The ACSPN conference brought together communication scholars, professionals and institutional stakeholders to examine the evolving communication landscape and the impact of emerging technologies on democracy and electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In his opening remarks, ACSPN President, Professor Rotimi Olatunji, stressed the importance of informed citizens, credible media and transparent institutions in sustaining constitutional democracy.
A keynote presentation delivered on behalf of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Sani Adam, also highlighted emerging challenges associated with artificial intelligence and digital communication, including deepfakes, AI-generated content and candidate impersonation.
The NCS engagement with ACSPN extends beyond the conference. On Monday, August 31, 2026, the Service hosted the association’s leadership at its National Headquarters in Abuja to explore areas of collaboration in digital communication, media engagement, professional development and stronger links between academia and the Customs Service.
The engagements culminated in technical sessions at the conference examining electoral communication and the challenges posed by the digital age, followed by a dinner and award ceremony recognising outstanding contributions to communication scholarship and professional practice.
