The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the media to enhance stakeholder engagement, public trust and national development.
The renewed partnership drive formed the focus of a media parley held at the Kano/Jigawa Area Command Headquarters, Abdullahi Dikko Inde Conference Hall in Bompai, Kano.
The event, organised by the National Public Relations Unit of the Service, brought together senior Customs officers, journalists and officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists from Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna and Katsina states.
Speaking during the engagement, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, described the media as an essential partner in public enlightenment and nation-building.
According to him, the media plays a key role in communicating government policies, Customs procedures, trade regulations and enforcement activities to stakeholders and the wider public.
Maiwada noted that under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Service has intensified reforms in trade modernisation, digital transformation, intelligence-driven enforcement, stakeholder engagement and institutional transparency.
He explained that the reforms are aimed at building a more accountable, technology-driven and people-oriented Customs administration capable of supporting economic growth.
The Customs spokesperson also urged journalists to uphold professionalism, fairness and responsible reporting, stressing that accurate and timely coverage remains critical as Customs operations continue to evolve.
He added that the Service would continue to collaborate with credible media organisations and adopt multilingual communication strategies to counter misinformation and improve public awareness.
In his remarks, the Acting Customs Area Controller of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Usman Adamu, described the engagement as timely and important for strengthening institutional communication and public confidence.
Adamu stated that the partnership between the media and Customs remains vital to achieving effective revenue generation, trade facilitation and border security objectives.
Also speaking, Vice Chairman of the Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mustapha Muhammad, commended the Customs Service for organising the parley and described the relationship between the media and Customs as mutually beneficial.
He reaffirmed the commitment of journalists to ethical journalism, professionalism and responsible reportage, while applauding the Kano/Jigawa Area Command for maintaining cordial relations with media practitioners.
The event featured an interactive session where journalists engaged Customs officials on operational procedures, trade facilitation, enforcement activities and stakeholder concerns.
Participants stressed the need for sustained dialogue, trust and professionalism to strengthen cooperation between the media and the Nigeria Customs Service.