Imagine scrolling through your social media feed and suddenly seeing a post that claims the Nigeria Customs Service is giving away seized cars, or that one of its officers is demanding payment to release a package. The post carries the official logo, the writing looks convincing, and before you know it, it has been shared hundreds of times. For an ordinary person, it might seem harmless at first. But for the Nigeria Customs Service, this kind of content is not just an occasional nuisance. It is a growing threat to public trust, national security, and even lives. In response, the service is now deploying artificial intelligence and digital intelligence tools to fight back against fake news and online scams. Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, made the announcement at the 2026 Roundtable of the Nigerian Council of the Institute of Public Relations in Abuja. The event brought together communication experts, public relations professionals, and policy makers to discuss how modern institutions can survive in an age where algorithms decide what people see online. The theme, “Algorithm Influence and Public Relations,” could not have been more appropriate. Adeniyi used the occasion to stress that AI is no longer a luxury for modern law enforcement; it is a necessity. “The role of AI cannot be overemphasised, especially within our operations,” he said. “Over the years, AI has been deployed in our core operational duties as well as strategic communication. We are now expanding these tools to monitor online information, establish facts, and counter misleading narratives in real time.” That statement marks a significant shift in how a major government agency views the digital world. It is one thing to respond to misinformation after it has caused damage. It is another to use smart technology to catch it as it emerges, trace where it came from, and stop it before it spreads further. That is the promise, and the challenge, behind the new customs digital strategy.
To understand why this matters, it helps to remember that customs work is not always as straightforward as checking bags at the airport. Every day, thousands of containers, vehicles, and personal consignments cross Nigeria’s borders. Customs officers must decide which ones deserve a closer look, which ones carry goods that require special duties, and which ones may hide something illegal. For years, the service has quietly relied on artificial intelligence to help with exactly those judgments. AI-assisted risk management systems can flag suspicious shipments, classify imported goods, and direct human officers to the most urgent interventions. That technology has already proven its value, but until now it focused mainly on physical trade. The new initiative extends the same intelligence to the public square. Misinformation, Adeniyi explained, is like contraband of a different kind: it enters the public mind, travels quickly, and leaves behind confusion, fear, and anger. By deploying AI in strategic communication, the customs service can now sift through enormous amounts of online content, identify false claims, verify facts, and respond in real time instead of waiting for a situation to spiral out of control. This is especially important because scams often imitate customs officials. A fraudster can create a fake account with the name and photograph of a real officer, contact a small business owner, and demand payment for a “clearance fee.” By the time the victim discovers the truth, the money is gone and the damage to trust is done. AI cannot eliminate every scam overnight, but it can give the service a far better chance of catching these patterns early and warning the public before more people fall into the trap.
Perhaps the most human side of this strategy is the effort to listen. The new initiative enhances the customs service’s ability to track public sentiment and gain deeper insights into how citizens perceive its activities. Do people see officers as helpful or intimidating? Do they feel that inspections are fair? Are there persistent rumors that have made them distrustful? These questions can no longer be answered through casual conversation or old-fashioned press releases. They require systematic information, especially in an age where public opinion is formed and expressed online at high speed. For Adeniyi, this is not just about improving the image of the agency. It is about making sure citizens understand why officers act the way they do. “Effective communication ensures the public understands the reasons behind our officers’ actions and operations,” he said. That sentence carries real weight. Many conflicts between customs and the public do not start with bad intentions. They start with misunderstanding. A trader who has waited hours for a check may think he is being targeted. A traveler whose bag is opened may feel singled out. A small importer who receives a rejection notice may not know the legal basis behind it. If the agency can see these frustrations as they happen, it can respond with clarity and empathy. It can explain what an officer is looking for, why certain goods are restricted, or how clearance procedures work. It can also correct false stories before they become part of local folklore. This shift, from simply announcing decisions to actually engaging with the public, is what modern public relations should look like. AI, by helping the service hear the conversation, makes that possible.
Of course, listening and messaging alone will not catch a criminal. That is why the customs service is also joining forces with other security agencies and digital enforcement bodies to attack the root cause of fraudulent online schemes. A fake Facebook page or WhatsApp message can disappear, reappear under a new name, and reach a fresh audience within hours. To stop that cycle, the NCS needs partners who understand digital trails, online identities, and the tricks of cybercriminals. The plan, according to Adeniyi, is to identify, track, and apprehend the people who orchestrate misinformation campaigns or impersonate customs officials. These are not harmless pranksters. They are often part of organized networks that profit from fear and confusion. Some trick people into redirecting legitimate payments. Others sell fake documents or promise to unlock seized goods. Still others spread false rumors to damage the reputation of the customs service and make officers look corrupt. The consequences are not abstract. A student waiting for a shipment from abroad can lose months of savings. A market woman who receives a text demanding money for a “stuck container” might never trust official channels again. The damage ripples through the economy and makes honest traders suspicious of every transaction. Adeniyi made the agency’s position clear: “By leveraging digital platforms to verify information, we can dismantle these fraudulent networks. We will not allow digital space manipulation to undermine our national security or economic mandates.” That strong language signals a new level of seriousness. It also reassures ordinary Nigerians that they are not alone when they encounter suspicious messages. There is a system behind them, one that is learning, adapting, and ready to act rather than merely react.
The roundtable discussion was a reminder that algorithms have changed the rules of public life. Every day, social media platforms use complex formulas to decide which posts become popular, which tweets go viral, and which stories disappear. These formulas are not neutral. They reward emotion, speed, and outrage. A convincing lie can travel to thousands of people in minutes, while a careful correction is often ignored. For institutions like the customs service, this creates a difficult reality: the agency may be doing everything right on the ground, but if false narratives dominate online, public perception suffers. Adeniyi’s speech was a response to that reality. The event itself, organised by the Nigerian Council of the Institute of Public Relations, highlighted the growing impact of algorithms on public communication and underscored the necessity for modern agencies to adapt. It is no longer enough to issue a statement and wait for the evening news. Public relations now requires active listening, constant monitoring, and immediate response. It also requires content that can compete in an attention economy. A long press release cannot undo a cleverly edited video, and a formal denial cannot match the reach of a sensational post. So the customs service must use every available tool, including AI, to tell its own story, humanise its work, and make sure facts have a fighting chance. In that sense, the digital strategy is not just about defence. It is about storytelling in a world where attention is the most valuable currency. The more clearly people understand what customs officers do and why, the harder it is for manipulators to twist the truth.
Looking ahead, the customs service is focused on a simple but ambitious goal: earning the public’s trust through transparency and consistent action. Adeniyi made it clear that AI will not replace human judgement. It will support it. The technology can flag a false claim, but a human officer must decide how to respond. It can trace a scammer, but investigators must still build a case. It can reveal public frustration, but that knowledge only matters if leaders are willing to change the way they communicate. The tools are impressive, but the purpose is thoroughly human. Through these advanced digital platforms, the NCS aims to foster transparency, build public trust, and maintain a secure trade environment where honest business can flourish and where citizens do not have to wonder whether the message they just received is genuine. For anyone who has ever crossed a border, sent a package, or imported goods, that is a meaningful promise. It means fewer surprises, fewer scams, and fewer reasons to fear the unknown. It also means that the fight against misinformation is not simply a public relations exercise. It is a public protection project, rooted in the belief that people deserve the truth and deserve to deal with an institution they can trust. The road ahead will not be perfect. Algorithms will keep changing, scammers will find new tricks, and misinformation will never disappear completely. But with AI in their corner, the customs service is no longer running helplessly behind. It is moving at the speed of the internet, and it has made clear that the digital space cannot be allowed to become a playground for criminals. In the end, this is not about becoming more automated. It is about becoming more accountable.