Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi has called for more synergy and collaboration between Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, for effective service delivery.
Adeniyi, represented by commandant of Nigeria Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos, Deputy Comptroller Haniel Hadison, made the call at the 2023 Gala/Awards Nite of the Nigeria Union of Journalists on Friday in Lagos.
He said: “Smuggling activities in the country can be curtailed to a large extent through partnership with the media.
“This inter-agency partnership and collaboration needs to be intensified because the media is positioned to inform and educate the public on the merit of anti-smuggling operations of the NCS.”
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He explained that the activities of the NCS have always elicited mixed reactions, especially from some persons, bent on criticising and attacking its operations, while calling on members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm to be part of this fight.
“To curb this menace, the media becomes very instrumental in the dissemination of information about Customs activities in the interest of Nigeria, and as well educating the public on government fiscal policies,” he said.
The Customs boss, pledged his commitment to work with journalists for effective service delivery because the role of the media is key in the attainment of the NCS’s mandate.
“The service requires the support and guidance of the media to consolidate the progress made in trade facilitation, revenue collection amongst areas of its mandate,” Adeniyi added.
The CG assured journalists of partnership in all Customs formations for better understanding of the undertakings and operations of the NCS.
