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By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Ibeto Seaport Area 5 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) , Portharcourt in River State recently organized a Reputation Management Cascade Training aimed at strengthening ethical standards, professional conduct, and the institutional image of the service.
This training is 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 .
Comptroller Yahaya said that Officers must consciously build their reputation with integrity and protect it with courage, as personal conduct ultimately relfects on the entire service.
Deputy Comptroller of Customs,Dc Jacob Onele delivered a comprehensive session on reputation management, highlighting the objectives of the Reputation Management handbook. Assistant Comptroller OE Ita discussed crisis and reputational risk management, emphasizing the need for officers to manage public backlash and maintain a positive image.
The training covered key areas such as media controversies and misinformation, with Assistant Comptroller MS Abdullahi advising officers on how to handle sensitive issues. Deputy Comptroller HA Barka focused on operational lapses and corruption allegations, urging officers to adhere to approved communication channels.
Deputy Comptroller BA Lawson Wadike delivered a session on the Golden 7Cs for Nigeria Customs Service officers, emphasizing the importance of honour, duty, professionalism, and national service.
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 yhe 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.
The Nigeria Customs Service looks forward to continued collaboration and support to enhance its operations and contribute to the country’s economic development.
According to the statement signed by Tangwa Emmanuel, Chief Superintendent of Customs and Public Relations Officer of Ibeto Seaport Command, the training featured various modules and facilitators.
