Customs deploys 29 PROs to drive food security dialogue

By Fredrick Ameh

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has identified strategic communication as a mechanical necessity for the success of national food security policies, following a high-profile engagement at the Nigerian Public Relations Week (NPRW) 2026 in Kaduna.

Leading a delegation of over 29 Public Relations Officers, the Service’s National PRO, Abdullahi Maiwada, emphasized during a panel session that even the most robust trade and border management policies risk failure without clear, consistent messaging.

The conference, which gathered policy experts and media professionals, explored how communication acts as a bridge between government interventions and public understanding of food inflation.

Experts on the panel warned that while climate change and insecurity are the primary drivers of rising food costs, weak communication often exacerbates the crisis by allowing misinformation to fill the gaps in public discourse.

The heavy presence of the Nigeria Customs Service at NPRW 2026 signals a fundamental shift in its operational philosophy: from “Enforcement-Only” to “Communication-Led Trade Facilitation.”

In the context of food security, the Customs Service plays a dual role, restricting the illegal export of locally produced grains while facilitating the legal, duty-free import of essential food items under specific government waivers.

Without a sophisticated public relations strategy, these complex border operations can be easily misinterpreted by the public as “obstructionist” rather than “protective.”

By institutionalizing strategic communication, the NCS is attempting to “pre-empt” the narrative around border management.

The focus on data-driven reporting discussed at the session is a move toward transparency; by providing the media with real-time data on food trade flows, Customs can help stabilize market expectations and combat speculative price hikes.

Furthermore, the internal dinner hosted for the 29 PROs suggests that the Service is building a unified “Command and Control” for its messaging, ensuring that from the busiest seaports in Lagos to the remote border posts in the North, the message on food security and trade policy remains synchronized and accurate.