The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has showcased its impact-focused reform communication model at the 17th Session of the Capacity Building Committee of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) which held recently at its Headquarters in Brussels
Speaking at the session, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada , delivered a presentation titled “Communicating the Results of Capacity-Building Initiatives More Effectively: Nigeria Customs Service Experience and Lessons Learned.”
In his address to delegates from member administrations, Maiwada explained that the NCS, under the leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi who doubles as the Chairperson of the WCO Council, has deliberately transitioned from routine activity reporting to evidence-based storytelling that clearly demonstrates reform outcomes and measurable impact.
“The Service’s reform communication framework is structured around three core pillars: institutional capacity building, human resource development, and stakeholder capacity engagement, ensuring that reforms are not only implemented but clearly understood and trusted,” Maiwada noted.
Using the Time Release Study (TRS) as a case study, he highlighted how the Service adopted transparent data presentation tools, including infographics, to demonstrate that a significant proportion of cargo clearance delays were attributable to systemic idle time rather than inspection procedures.
According to him, “This approach shifted the narrative from defensive explanations to performance benchmarking, strengthening shared accountability across the trade ecosystem.”
On the Advance Ruling programme, Maiwada disclosed that 83 Advance Rulings were issued in 2025, while registered accounts grew from 60 in December 2024 to 173 in December 2025, reflecting a 188.3 percent increase in stakeholder participation.
He further stated that the initiative accounted for 2.9 percent of total revenue from goods valued at ₦240.89 billion in 2025, reinforcing the role of structured communication in promoting predictability and voluntary compliance.
Highlighting progress under the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, he revealed that about 120 Companies have received full AEO certification. Additionally, 3,270 officers were trained nationwide as AEO Champions to sustain implementation and deepen stakeholder engagement.
He referenced the deployment of the indigenous Unified Customs Management System, called B’Odogwu, as a milestone in digital transformation, supported by continuous sensitisation and user engagement.
Furthermore, he highlighted the Customs Integrity Perception Survey as a data-driven tool for strengthening accountability and public trust, noting that integrity management within the Service is now measurable and continuously assessed.
Maiwada further encouraged WCO member administrations to integrate communication units at the design stage of reform initiatives, humanise institutional processes, sustain engagement beyond single events, and strengthen peer learning across Customs administrations.
