Customs Public Relations Unit Strengthened With Induction of 70 Officers by NIPR

In a landmark move to strengthen strategic communication and professionalise its Public Relations workforce, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has inducted seventy Public Relations officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). This marks the Service’s first mass induction into the Institute since 2013.

The ceremony, held on Monday, 13 July 2026, at the Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, underscores Customs’ commitment to building a corps of certified communication professionals capable of effectively projecting its reforms, operations, and institutional achievements.

Addressing the newly inducted officers, Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, described the exercise as a strategic investment in the Service’s communication architecture. He noted that Customs’ transformation—including its recognition as the best-performing government agency in Ease of Doing Business—was the result of deliberate reforms that require competent professionals to communicate successes with clarity, credibility, and purpose.

“As the Service transitions to a technology-driven administration, Public Relations practitioners must remain proactive in countering misinformation, managing public perception, and sustaining stakeholders’ confidence. Rumours will be heard, narratives will be pushed—so be ready to respond with clarity and decisiveness,” Adeniyi charged.

He further revealed that the Service’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Customs Cares, is set to receive recognition at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, describing it as a legacy project whose impact must be amplified through strategic, ethical, and professional communication.

In his remarks, NIPR President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, commended Customs for prioritising professionalism and investing in certified communication practitioners. He observed that under Adeniyi’s leadership, the Service has evolved into a national institution admired for its reforms, corporate excellence, and growing influence within the global Customs community. “You can no longer dismiss matters concerning the Service. You must be proud of this as a Nigerian,” Dr. Neliaku stated.

Also speaking, retired Comptroller of Customs and former National Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah, urged the inductees to uphold the ethics of the profession by remaining truthful, accurate, and responsible in their communication. He encouraged continuous professional development through seminars, workshops, and active participation in NIPR activities, stressing that effective crisis communication requires composure, empathy, and strategic thinking.

In his welcome address, National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Aliyu Maiwada, acknowledged the role of the Comptroller-General and former spokespersons of the Service in nurturing the PR unit to its current height.

The induction of seventy officers marks another milestone in Customs’ reform agenda and reinforces its commitment to institutionalising excellence in strategic communication.