The Ibeto Sea Port and Terminal Customs Command holds reputation management training to strengthen ethics and public trust
Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
The Ibeto Seaport and Terminals Area 5 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt, Rivers state, on Friday January 16, 2026 held a Reputation Management Cascade Training aimed at strengthening ethical standards, professional conduct, and the institutional image of the service.
In a Press Release signed and made available to Tentacle by the Command’ spokesman, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC), Emmanuel Tangwa, the training was part of the service-wide driven programme to entrench integrity, accountability and public confidence in its operations.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Usman Yahaya, while declaring the training open, charged officers to be attentive and actively engaged in all the modules. He described reputation as “a currency more valuable than money,” noting that “reputation like shadow follows an individual everywhere he goes”.
According to him, “Officers must consciously build their reputation with integrity and protect it with courage, as personal conduct ultimately reflects on the entire service”.
Facilitators were on ground to guide officers and management through carefully designed modules.
Deputy Comptroller of customs in charge of Revenue, DC Jacob Onele, led the resource persons, he delivered a comprehensive session on the introduction to Reputation Management and its practical application within the NCS, emphasizing on the objectives of the Reputation Management handbook, stressing that it is compulsory reading for all officers.
Further he explained why reputation management was of essence to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), even as he highlighting factors that usually shape public perception such as officers’ conduct, communication style, operational transparency, complaint handling, clarity in engagements, and overall tone of interaction with the public. He outlined the roles and responsibilities of leadership, senior management, public relations officers and officers at the command, zonal and field levels. He concluded by adding that the strength of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was anchored not only in enforcement but in the public trust built through every clearance and engagement.
the Ag. Deputy Comptroller administration of the Command, Assistant Comptroller AC OE Ita, on the broader theme of “crisis and reputational risk management,”
addressed the issue of public backlash arising from misconduct. He cited instances where officers’ actions negatively affects the image of the Service and explained practical steps for managing such situations to prevent reputational damage and restore public confidence.
Assistant Comptroller AC. MS Abdullahi, chief examiner of the Command, spoke on media controversies and misinformation on the service’s credibility and operations.
Advising officers to avoid public argument or defensive statements but to carefully conduct a SWOT analysis before responding to sensitive issues, ensuring that actions taken align with institutional values and communication protocols.
Deputy Comptroller DC. HA Barka, team manager of the Customs intelligence unit focused on operational lapses, corruption allegations, and the role of Customs Reputation ambassadors, distinguished between unintentional operational lapses and intentional acts of corruption, urging officers to adhere strictly to approved communication channels and apply lessons learned to future engagements in order to safeguard the Service’s image.
Deputy Comptroller DC. BA Lawson Wadike the final resource person for the day delivered an engaging session on the Golden 7Cs for the Nigeria Customs Service officers, describing the 7Cs not merely as a code, but as a compass that guides every customs officer toward honour, duty professionalism, and national service, leaving a strong impression on participants.
The training featured interactive sessions, question-and-answer segments, and syndicate discussions as Officers were divided into two syndicates, each tasked with coming up with practical scenarios and proffering solutions on how reputational challenges should be handled or was handled. All modules were presented with detailed slides to enhance understanding and participation.
The Participants commended the initiative and acknowledged its positive impact on their understanding of what reputation management is all about as officers noted that a single act of misconduct could stain the uniform of a thousand honest others reinforcing the lesson that reputation management begins with individual accountability.
Meanwhile, the Ibeto Seaport and Terminals Command Area 5, said it recorded revenue generation over ₦12.3 billion within its first six months of full operations under the leadership of Usman Yahaya.
On the revenue generation, Comptroller Yahaya said, “Within the review period of July to December 2025, the Command raked in the sum of N12,382,397,531.62. He noted that the result reflected deliberate reforms, institutional discipline and a clear operational focus aligned with national economic objectives. Describing the achievement as a bold and promising start”.
Comptroller Yaya attributed the Command’s early success to the visionary leadership, encouragement, and policy direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR dsm fnipr PhD. He further emphasized the impact of the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), also known as B’Odogwu, a home-grown digital platform that has enhanced transparency, efficiency and accountability in cargo clearance and revenue collection.
Comptroller Yahaya commended compliant port users as well as the dedicated officers of the Command whose professionalism and commitment contributed to the milestone. He reassured officers of a conducive working environment that promotes productivity and ethical conduct, while encouraging importers, exporters, freight forwarders and licensed customs agents to strictly operate within the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023 and other extant regulations.
Further he said, the CAC stated that the Ibeto Seaport and Terminals Area 5 Command remains firmly guided by the Comptroller-General’s tripod policy thrust of collaboration, consolidation and innovation. According to him, these principles will continue to shape the Command’s engagement with stakeholders while driving sustainable growth in national revenue and trade facilitation.
He expressed appreciation to the Chairman of the Ibeto Group of Companies, High Chief Cletus Ibeto CON, for his unwavering cooperation and support to the Command at its formative stage. Comptroller Yahaya also called for enhanced collaboration from all port stakeholders, stressing that beyond revenue collection, the Command remains vigilant in preventing smuggling and eliminating revenue leakages.
Worthy of note is the strategic collaboration built in 2025 with sister government agencies in Port Harcourt, including the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). These partnerships have strengthened intelligence sharing, joint operations and preventive measures against smuggling in the national interest.
Reflecting on the past year, Comptroller Yahaya described 2025 as a foundation-laying period for the Command’s anticipated growth. He noted that 2026 will be dedicated to consolidating achievements, strengthening operational processes and deepening trade facilitation initiatives in line with global best practices.
In his New Year message, the CAC remarked that the revenue recorded was largely a product of persistence, teamwork and sustained encouragement from the Comptroller-General of Customs. He reiterated that the Command achieved significant gains through the effective deployment of the B’Odogwu system and remains determined to surpass those results in 2026 and beyond.
Comptroller Yahaya called on officers and stakeholders to sustain full cooperation as the Command enters the new year with renewed vigor and higher expectations. He affirmed that the Ibeto Seaport and Terminals Command, though relatively new, is staffed by seasoned, teachable and highly motivated officers committed to serving the nation with integrity and professionalism.
Concluding, the Customs Area Controller urged all stakeholders to remain law-abiding by embracing sincere declarations, prompt duty payments and rejecting under declarations and concealment. He emphasized the need for strict adherence to the Federal Government of Nigeria’s import and export guidelines and all extant laws to ensure that Ibeto Seaport and Terminals Command continues to as a model of compliance, efficiency, and national service.
