By Suleiman Aremu | Solaremnews
The National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, has said the Service’s sustained integrity reforms and anti-corruption measures are yielding positive results, strengthening transparency, accountability and ethical conduct among officers.
Maiwada made the disclosure on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 4th Economic Confidential Lecture and 6th National Spokespersons Awards organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR).
The event was themed, “Anti-Corruption Reforms, Economic Stability and Effective Communication.”
Maiwada said integrity remained a fundamental pillar of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), noting that the NCS had continued to align its operations with global best practices through integrity perception surveys, institutional reforms and stronger collaboration with anti-corruption institutions.
He explained that the Service had conducted integrity perception surveys involving both internal and external stakeholders, with the feedback helping to shape its reform programmes, modernisation initiatives and partnerships with other government agencies.
“The World Customs Organisation is very intentional about the integrity of Customs officers worldwide. Nigeria Customs has conducted integrity perception surveys involving both internal and external stakeholders, and the feedback from those exercises has continued to shape our reforms, our modernisation projects and even our collaboration with other government agencies,” Maiwada said.
He disclosed that the Code of Conduct Bureau had recently visited the Service as part of efforts to strengthen ethical conduct among Customs officers.
Maiwada said the engagement formed part of the broader efforts to ensure that officers maintained high standards of professionalism, accountability and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Adamu Aliyu, described corruption as a global challenge that distorts economies, fuels inequality and undermines national security.
Aliyu stressed that corruption was neither peculiar to Nigeria nor Africa, pointing to cases in other parts of the world as evidence that corrupt practices transcend national boundaries.
The event also featured the recognition of young professionals in strategic communication, with Assistant Superintendent of Customs I Folusho Adeogun, Liaison Officer of the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN), emerging as the Young Communicator of the Year at the 6th National Spokespersons Awards.
Receiving the award, Adeogun dedicated the recognition to the Nigeria Customs Service and pledged to contribute further to the growth of the institution through effective communication.
“This award will encourage me to contribute even more to the Service and ensure that I continue to play my role effectively. It has energised me to do more,” he said.
Congratulating Adeogun, Maiwada described the award as a reflection of the young officer’s commitment, professionalism and hard work.
“I am particularly delighted to see one of our young officers receive this recognition. No amount of mentorship can produce results unless the individual is willing to learn and improve himself. Adeogun has demonstrated commitment, professionalism and hard work,” he said.
The jury chairperson, Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi, said the National Spokespersons Awards had grown beyond an annual recognition programme into a platform for promoting professionalism, effective communication and public trust.
She noted that the awards had continued to highlight the important role of communication professionals in strengthening institutional credibility and fostering trust between government institutions and the public.
The event brought together stakeholders from the anti-corruption, governance, media, public relations and communication sectors to examine the relationship between anti-corruption reforms, economic stability and effective communication.
For the Nigeria Customs Service, the recognition of Adeogun further highlighted the institution’s efforts to promote professionalism among its younger officers while pursuing wider reforms aimed at strengthening integrity, transparency and accountability across its operations.
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