The Nigeria Customs Service has commenced the deployment of artificial intelligence and digital data-tracking solutions to counter online scams and misleading publications capable of tarnishing its corporate image. This strategic shift aims to safeguard institutional credibility while improving public outreach across the country.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this revelation during the recently concluded NECCIPR Roundtable 2026 held in Lagos State. Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General, the Service’s National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, emphasized the necessity of transparency and clear public understanding regarding administrative policies and enforcement procedures.
Addressing participants under the thematic focus “Algorithm Influence and Public Relations,” Maiwada highlighted how artificial intelligence has become integral to both administrative duties and strategic communication frameworks within the organization. According to the agency, digital innovations are actively utilized to evaluate import risks, sort consignments based on threat levels, and determine targeted regulatory interventions.
What role does artificial intelligence play in Customs operations?
Beyond logistics and risk mitigation, the agency noted that machine learning tools are deployed to evaluate public sentiment, offering analytical insights into how citizens perceive regulatory duties. Maiwada further stated that the organization leverages digital platforms to verify facts and collaborates with relevant security bodies to track down and prosecute individuals behind false online narratives.
“The role of AI cannot be overemphasised, especially within our operations. Over the years, AI has been deployed in our core operational duties as well as strategic communication,” Maiwada explained. He added that risk management protocols heavily rely on these systems to categorize imported commodities appropriately.
How are industry experts reacting to algorithmic influence?
In her opening remarks, the convener of the NECCIPR Roundtable 2026, Nkechi Ali-Balogun, noted that the annual gathering was established to empower public relations practitioners to actively guide national conversations rather than merely manage communication outputs. She stressed that the current technological era demands careful scrutiny of digital systems.
“When machines decide what we see, who is really shaping the Nigerian mind? Who now controls the flow of information that shapes what Nigerians believe? We live in a rapidly changing world, powered by AI, where a single algorithm can shape political narratives, throw out conspiracy theories, and dictate what millions read, believe, and share,” Ali-Balogun stated.