By Bon Peters
The Public relations unit of the Nigeria Customs Service says it has started its 2026 Public Relations (PR) Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, even as it has extended her hand of fellowship to Journalists operating in the South – East and South -South regions of Nigeria underscoring the importance of media engagement for the success of the conference in particular and the Nigeria Customs Service operations in general.
The event with the theme: “Realigning Corporate Communication as a Strategic Driver of Institutional Effectiveness and Public Trust,” kicked off Tuesday, July 21,2026 with a Media parley that witnessed the gathering of all the public relations officers in Nigeria Customs service who arrived the Zone C, Headquarters Port Harcourt from various Customs Commands for the PR Conference.
In his goodwill message the Customs, Zone C, Coordinator and representative of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi MFR PhD, Ag. ACG Pascal Chibuoke said the Media parley was timely and strategic even as he commended the initiative which according to him further strengthened the enduring partnership between the NCS and the media.
The Zone C Customs boss went further to posit “As strategic partners in national development your commitment for objective reportage, responsive journalism remains insatiable in promoting transparency and accountability.”
He applauded the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR PhD, for approving the programme which he said reflected his unwavering commitment, openness and stakeholder engagement among others.
Continuing, he praised the Customs National Public Relations Officer DC Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada for his foresight, innovation and proactive leadership in redefining the public relations landscape of the Nigeria Customs service, insisting that his vision has projected the Service positively and deepened the corporate understanding of Customs statutory responsibilities among others even as he thanked the journalists for honouring the invitation while urging them to engage in a rewarding discussion.
For the National public relations officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, DC Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, the essence of the engagement was to deepen the already existing relationship between the NCS and the media which he described as a brigade through which government policies, Customs procedures, Trade regulations and engagement activities are communicated to the stakeholders and the general public.
He added that such could only be achieved through balanced reportage.
Buttressing more, the Customs National Public relations officer, noted “the media parley today is carefully designed as an interactive platform to deepen collaboration, strengthen professionalism, and also strengthen relationships between us (NCS) and you on the other side.”
He acknowledged the vital contributions of the media in projecting the Nigeria Customs Service activities, reforms and even challenges urging them to engage in open dialogue, frank contributions and constructive conversations that would further consolidate the relationship between the NCS and the media saying ” we should explore the innovative ways of promoting public awareness that will support economic growth, enhancing border security and advancing broader national development objectives of the federal government ”
Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman local organizing committee of the 2026 PR conference, Emmanuel Tangwa, a chief superintendent of Customs welcomed all the participants on behalf of all the public relations officers in Zone C.
He noted that the media parley was a critical stakeholder engagement which reflected the Nigeria Customs Service unwavering commitment to transparency, professionalism, stakeholder engagement and national development even as he paid a glowing tribute to the acting ACG, Zone C, Headquarters Port Harcourt, Pascal Chibuoke for his support and encouragement, noting that his leadership style and steadfastness has inspired the hosting of the historic PR conference in Rivers state.
Continuing, he said, the gathering today was not merely as public relations officers or information disseminators but as critical stakeholders in the national security, trade facilitation, revenue generation and National development, insisting that the relationship between the NCS and the media remains indispensible in building public trust and informed national discourse.
He averred that in an era where “information travelled in an unprecedented speed, transparency is no longer optional but imperative.”
He described the hosting of the event in Port Harcourt as both historic and symbolic as according to him, the south East and South-South regions are among the main bubs of maritime activities in Nigeria.
He also stated that with the hosting, of the event, in Port Harcourt, the National PRO has demonstrated a very serious importance he attached to every command and zone of the Nigeria Customs Service.
He insisted that NCS placed much premium in the relationship existing between NCS and the media.
“We value your partnership and encourage the sustenance of your factual, balanced and developmental journalism that promote national interest” Tangwa said.
Also speaking, the Customs Area Controller, Area 1, Command, Port Harcourt, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku applauded the journalists for their partnership with the NCS.
Atuluku noted that “in an age of rapid information flow and public scrutiny, communication can no longer be an afterthought.”
She added that “effective communication is built on trust and trust is sustained by openness, accuracy, professionalism and mutual respect”, insisting that journalists carry the responsibility of informing the public fairly and accurately adding that they should show commitment in strengthening the service even as she encouraged them to engage in an open and sincere discussion.
Others who gave goodwill messages include Apostle Tony Nzekwe of the Global Rays Magazine who spoke on behalf of Maritime Journalists in Zone C, and the Chairman NUJ Rivers state chapter, Mr. Paul Bazia .
The event featured question and answer session, whereby some grey areas in the customs operations were explained by the National Public relations officer DC AA Maiwada, Ag. Controller, Eastern Marine Command, DC Esien Essiet and AC MA Haruna who represented, the Controller Federal operations Unit, Zone C Owerri, Comptroller AB Balogun.
Others present at the event, include Customs Area 5, Controller, Ibeto Seaport and Terminals, Comptroller Usman Yahaya, Customs Comptrollers from zone C, Customs Public relations officers from various commands in Nigeria , media executives, publishers, Senior Correspondents and Reporters operating in Zone C among others.
The event will be rounded off Friday.
