President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, has urged the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to take deliberate steps to rebuild public trust by addressing longstanding perception challenges surrounding its operations.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 edition of the NCS Public Relations Workshop at Bayero University, Kano, Dr. Neliaku said public misconceptions about Customs policies and operations have eroded confidence in the Service over the years.
He stressed that credibility, transparency, and stakeholder engagement must underpin efforts to reshape the Service’s image.
“For the Nigerian Customs to function effectively, its PR officers must rise above being mere protocol officers or MCs restricted to ceremonial duties,” Neliaku said.
“PR officers must first be credible themselves in order to build credibility for the Service. The Service is grappling with fragile public trust — that deficit must be addressed.”
He highlighted the strategic role of PR officers in reputation management, crisis communication, and risk mitigation, urging them to go beyond routine ceremonial roles to drive behavioral change and build public confidence.
Declaring the workshop open, Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, represented by Acting Deputy Comptroller-General, Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Timi Bomodi, reiterated the Service’s commitment to strategic communication.
“The NCS operates at the intersection of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and national security. Every decision and policy affects millions of Nigerians. How we communicate is just as important as what we do,” Adeniyi said, adding that reforms and modernization efforts must be accompanied by consistent, transparent engagement to win public trust.
Bayero University Vice Chancellor, Professor Haruna Musa, called on Customs PR officers to deepen their understanding of their audiences and strengthen credibility in their communications.
He assured the university’s readiness to support capacity building for Customs personnel.
