CGC Adeniyi Urges 70 Newly Inducted PR Officers to Remain Proactive in Countering Misinformation, Managing Public Perception

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has charged seventy newly inducted Public Relations officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to remain proactive in countering misinformation, managing public perception and sustaining stakeholders’ confidence as the Service deepens its reform agenda and transitions to a technology-driven Customs administration.

Speaking during the induction ceremony of the officers into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) on Monday, 13 July 2026, at the Service Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja, Adeniyi described the exercise as a strategic investment in strengthening the Service’s communication architecture and institutional capacity.

The induction, which is the first mass admission of NCS Public Relations officers into the Institute since 2013, marks a significant step in the Service’s drive to professionalise its Public Relations workforce and build a corps of certified communication professionals capable of effectively projecting its reforms, operations and institutional achievements.

Addressing the newly inducted officers, the Comptroller-General said the Service’s transformation, including its emergence as the best-performing government agency in Ease of Doing Business, was the result of deliberate reforms that require competent professionals to communicate Customs’ achievements with clarity, credibility and purpose.

He stressed that as the Service embraces technology-driven Customs administration, Public Relations practitioners must be equipped to respond swiftly to misinformation and protect the institution’s reputation.

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

The Comptroller-General also revealed 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 strategic, ethical and professional communication.

In his remarks, the President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku commended the Service for prioritising professionalism and investing in the development of certified communication practitioners.

He observed that under the leadership of the Comptroller-General, 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 newly inducted officers to uphold the ethics of the Public Relations profession by remaining truthful, accurate and responsible in their communication.

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

‎Earlier, the National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Aliyu Maiwada, asserted that this milestone would not have been achieved without the commitment of the Comptroller General of Customs as well other former Spokespersons of the Service who nurtured the unit to this enviable height.

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