Ibeto Seaport Command of NCS Emphasizes Ethics and Public Trust in Reputation Management Training
The Ibeto Seaport Area 5 Command of the Nigeria customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt, on Friday 16 January 2026 held its ongoing Reputation Management Cascade Training aimed at Strengthening ethical standards, professional conduct, and the institutional image of the service. The training formed part of the service-wide drive to entrench integrity, accountability, and public confidence in customs operations.
Declaring the training open, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Usman Yahaya, 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 a shadow follows an individual everywhere .According to him, officers must consciously build their reputation with integrity and protect it with courage, as personal conduct ultimately relfects on the entire service.
According to a press statement signed by CSC Tangwa Emmanuel,
Public Relations Officer of the command,
five facilitators were on ground to guide officers and management through carefully designed modules. The lead resource person, Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Revenue, DC Jacob Onele, delivered a comprehensive session on the introduction to Reputation Management and its practical application within the NCS. He emphasized the objectives of the Reputation Management handbook, stressing that it is compulsory reading for all officers.
DC Onele further explained why reputation management matters to the NCS,highlighting factors that 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 noting that the strength of NCS lies not only in enforcement but in the public trust built through every clearance and engagement.
Speaking on the broader theme of "crisis and reputational risk management," Assistant Comptroller OE Ita, the Ag. Deputy Comptroller Administration of the Command addressed the issue of public backlash arising from misconduct. He cited instances where officers' actions negatively affected the image of the Service and explained practical steps for managing such situations to prevent reputaional damage and restore public confidence.
The next facilitator, Assistant Comptroller MS Abdullahi, Chief Examiner of the Command, spoke on media controversies and misinformation on the service's credibility and operations. Officers were advised to avoid public argument or defensive statements and to carefully conduct a SWOT analysis before responding to sensitive issues, ensuring that actions taken align with institutional values and communication protocols.
Deputy Comptroller HA Barka, Team Manager of the Customs Intelligence Unit, was the next resource person. He focused on operational lapses , corruption allegations, and the role of Customs Reputation ambassadors. He 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.
The final resource person, Deputy Comptroller BA Lawson Wadike delivered an engaging session on the Golden 7Cs for the Nigeria Customs Service officers. She described 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 also featured interactive sessions, question-and-answer segments, and syndicate discussions. 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.
Participants commended the initiative and acknowledged its positive impact on their understanding of the reputation management. Officers noted that a single act of misconduct can stain the uniform of a thousand honest officers, reinforcing the lesson that reputation management begins with individual accountability. The training reaffirmed the command's commitment to ethical conduct and sustained public trust.
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