NIPR Inducts 70 Customs PR Officers After 13-Year Gap

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has inducted 70 Public Relations officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), marking the Service’s first mass induction into the professional body since 2013.

According to a post on its official X page, the induction ceremony, held on Monday at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, is aimed at strengthening strategic communication and deepening professionalism among the Service’s Public Relations personnel.

Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the induction as a strategic investment in the future of the Service’s communication system, saying effective communication is critical to sustaining the gains of ongoing reforms.

“The induction is a strategic investment in the future of the Service’s communication architecture,” Adeniyi said.

He noted that the Nigeria Customs Service’s emergence as one of the country’s top-performing government agencies in ease of doing business was driven by deliberate reforms that must be effectively communicated to stakeholders.

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According to him, as the Service embraces a technology-driven Customs administration, its Public Relations officers must be prepared to combat misinformation and strengthen public confidence.

“Rumours will be heard, narratives will be pushed, so be ready to use your communication with clarity and the necessary measures so rumours can be addressed swiftly and decisively,” he charged the newly inducted officers.

The Comptroller-General also disclosed that the Service’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, Customs Cares, is set to receive recognition at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

He described the programme as a legacy project whose impact should continue to be amplified through ethical and strategic communication.

In his remarks, NIPR President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for prioritising professionalism and investing in the development of certified communication practitioners.

He said the Service had grown into a national institution recognised for its reforms and operational excellence.

“You can no longer dismiss matters concerning the Service. You must be proud of this as a Nigerian,” Neliaku said.

Also speaking, former National Public Relations Officer of the Service, retired Comptroller Joseph Attah, urged the newly inducted officers to uphold the ethics of the profession by remaining truthful, accurate and responsible in carrying out their duties.

He encouraged them to pursue continuous professional development through seminars, workshops and active participation in NIPR activities, stressing that effective crisis communication requires composure, empathy and strategic thinking.

Earlier, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller Aliyu Maiwada, attributed the milestone to the commitment of the Comptroller-General and the contributions of former Customs spokespersons who laid the foundation for the unit’s growth.

The induction of the 70 officers forms part of the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing reform agenda aimed at institutionalising professionalism and excellence in strategic communication.