Elegbede Abiodun
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), alongside key stakeholders, has continued to advance conversations on food security, policy communication, and strategic stakeholder engagement at the 2026 Nigerian Public Relations Week (NPRW) held in Kaduna.
The event, themed “Policy making to Public plate”, commenced on 19 April 2026 at the Brigadier General Abba Kyari Banquet Hall, Kaduna, and was graced by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima GCON, and the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sanni CON. The event also attracted communication professionals, policymakers, media practitioners, and public relations experts across the country to deliberate on contemporary issues shaping food inflation and security.
The Service recorded a strong presence at the week-long engagement, with over 29 Customs Public Relations Officers participating, reflecting the Service’s commitment to strengthening institutional communication, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and advancing professional excellence in public relations practice.
A major highlight of the event was a high-level panel session focused on the role of strategic communication in addressing food inflation and shaping public understanding of government interventions on food security.
Speaking during the panel session, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, underscored the centrality of communication to policy formulation and implementation, particularly in trade facilitation and border management.
Maiwada asserted that “Even at the implementation stage of any policy, communication is critical,” he said. “Without clearly communicating these policies to the public, they may not achieve the desired impact. When people understand how policies affect them, they are more likely to align with them.”
He further noted that effective communication remains essential for building trust, shaping perceptions, and ensuring that policy measures are not only understood but also supported by the public, particularly in addressing complex issues such as food inflation and supply chain challenges.
Other panellists, including Pan-African Parliament Ambassador for Food Security, Ambassador Bryiyne Chitsunge, and communication expert Agnes Bassey, identified climate change and insecurity as major drivers of food inflation, stressing that weak communication around these realities often fuels public misunderstanding and misinformation.
The session also highlighted the need for accurate, data-driven, and solution-oriented media reporting, while calling for stronger collaboration between government institutions and the media to promote balanced narratives on food security and national development.
As part of the event’s activities, the National Public Relations Officer hosted a dinner for Public Relations Officers at the B.A. Adeniyi Officers’ Mess in Kaduna, which provides officers with an opportunity to unwind and strengthen camaraderie outside formal conference sessions.
The dinner was attended by the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Zone B Headquarters, ACG Nsika Umoh, and the Comptroller of the Kaduna Customs Area Command, Comptroller Sa’ad Hassan, alongside officers participating in the conference.
In her remarks, ACG Umoh commended the unity and professional bond among officers in the Public Relations Unit, describing the atmosphere as inspiring and family-oriented.
