The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with key stakeholders, has intensified dialogue on food security, policy communication, and strategic engagement during the 2026 Nigerian Public Relations Week (NPRW) in Kaduna.
Themed “Policy Making to Public Plate”, the week-long event opened on 19 April at the Brigadier General Abba Kyari Banquet Hall, with Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima GCON and Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sanni CON in attendance. The gathering drew policymakers, communication professionals, media practitioners, and public relations experts nationwide to address pressing issues of food inflation and security.
NCS demonstrated strong institutional commitment, with over 29 Public Relations Officers participating. This presence underscored the Service’s dedication to strengthening communication, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and advancing professional excellence in public relations.
A highlight was a high-level panel session on the role of strategic communication in tackling food inflation and shaping public understanding of government interventions. Deputy Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Maiwada emphasized that communication is central to policy success:
“Even at the implementation stage of any policy, communication is critical. Without clearly communicating these policies to the public, they may not achieve the desired impact.”
Maiwada stressed that effective communication builds trust, shapes perceptions, and ensures public support for complex measures such as food inflation management and supply chain resilience.
Other panellists, including Pan-African Parliament Ambassador for Food Security Ambassador Bryiyne Chitsunge and communication expert Agnes Bassey, identified climate change and insecurity as major drivers of food inflation. They warned that weak communication around these realities often fuels misinformation and misunderstanding.
The session called for accurate, data-driven, and solution-oriented media reporting, alongside stronger collaboration between government institutions and the media to promote balanced narratives on food security and national development.
Beyond formal sessions, Maiwada hosted a dinner for Public Relations Officers at the B.A. Adeniyi Officers’ Mess, fostering camaraderie and unity. The event was attended by Assistant Comptroller-General Nsika Umoh and Comptroller Sa’ad Hassan, who praised the professional bond within the PR Unit, describing the atmosphere as inspiring and family-oriented.