- Maritime media will share my success or failures – Adeniyi
The acting Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has solicited the support of the maritime media in his bid to ensure Customs performs optimally under his leadership.
Adeniyi sought this partnership yesterday, when he dined with Chief Executives and Editors of various maritime media groups, heads of Media associations, as well as frontline reporters from national dailies and broadcasting organizations.
Having enjoyed robust media support as a former National Customs Public Relations Officer, Adeniyi averred that his success at the helm of affairs at Customs will be a collective gain for the media, even as his failures would also leave a dent on the media practitioners.
His words: “It is really a humbling experience for me to be here as head of NCS. This is because we started together and God has given me the grace to come this far. The idea is simply to have a walk-in dinner and catch-up with one another.”
“We know what Lagos represents in terms of Customs activities. So, I have come to report myself to my colleagues and to tell you that indeed your former PRO is now the acting Comptroller-General of Customs. I want to solicit your support, guidance and partnership in steering the affairs of the NCS”
According to Adeniyi, it would be a joyous accomplishment if someone from the media/ Public Relations background performs excellently and succeeds as the Customs boss, nevertheless, he argued that it would also be a collective failure if he fails.
Several veteran maritime journalists described the event as a homecoming and a special time in the history of Customs to have well-respected PR personality reaching the apex at the Service.
While the new Customs boss freely interacted with the maritime media practitioners, most of whom he knew when he was a two-star Customs officer, he assured them of an open door policy.
The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos, Mr. Leye Ajayi promised that the maritime media would support Adeniyi’s administration, even as he advised the Command PROs and National PRO to play a strategic role in their engagements with journalists.
Ajayi observed that when Customs PROs have good regard for journalists and transparently respond to conflicting issues, there would be a better reportage from the media.
Also speaking, the President of the League of Maritime Editors, Chief Timothy Okorocha lamented that Customs haven’t enjoyed quality and mutually beneficial relationship with the maritime media since Adeniyi’s administration ended as National Customs PRO.
Okorocha, however, expressed optimism that Adeniyi’s ascendancy to Customs CG would lead to a more robust collaboration and partnership with the maritime media.
Meanwhile, one of the revered female Nigerian maritime journalists, Mrs. Remi Iritie emphasized the need for current PROs to pick calls and respond wisely when beckoned on issues by the media.