Customs Deepens Integrity Drive as Reputation Campaign Reaches Zone ‘C’

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has once again demonstrated its deliberate commitment to building trust and safeguarding institutional integrity as it extended its Reputation Management Campaign to Zone ‘C’, Port Harcourt.

The campaign, held on Friday, 15 August 2025, at the Zone ‘C’ Headquarters auditorium, brought together officers from commands across the zone for a train-the-trainer workshop. The session was designed to equip selected officers with practical skills and strategies to embed professionalism, accountability, and transparency within their respective commands.

In his keynote address, Comptroller Chika Dim of the Eastern Marine Command applauded the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and his Management Team for initiating such an innovative programme that directly connects institutional reputation with service delivery.

“Officers today are fortunate to serve under a forward-looking leadership,” he remarked. “But true success will only come from the deliberate effort we invest in protecting and managing the Service’s reputation. The Reputation Management Guide must not be seen as a document to shelve but as a compass for daily decision-making, a tool to reshape our relationship with the public and rebuild trust.”

Setting the tone earlier, the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller (AC) Abdullahi Maiwada, underscored that reputation is among the Service’s most valuable assets, though intangible. He stressed that Customs is intentional about earning and sustaining it.

“Reputation is not given; it is earned through transparency, accountability, and effective communication,” he stated. “Every officer’s conduct contributes to how the Nigeria Customs Service is perceived by the public and stakeholders.”

In her closing remarks, Comptroller Teressa Ezenwa expressed appreciation to the resource persons and participants, noting that the campaign was not just about learning but about cultivating a culture.

“Reputation is not built in a day,” she said. “It requires consistency, professionalism, patience, and respect for the values our Service stands for. This campaign reminds us that we must be intentional in how we conduct ourselves and how we serve the public.”

The event also featured interactive breakout sessions where officers worked through real-life scenarios and case studies, applying the principles of the Reputation Management Guide to everyday operational challenges.

As participants dispersed, it was evident that Zone ‘C’ had joined the growing list of Zones aligning with the Service’s renewed focus on institutional reputation, a deliberate cultural shift that the NCS leadership believes will redefine the organisation’s image in Nigeria and across the global customs community.