Ibeto Customs Command hosts reputation management training to bolster ethics and public trust - ITREALMS

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The Ibeto Seaport and Terminals Area 5 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, held its Reputation Management Cascade Training last Friday, reports ITREALMS.

This initiative is part of a service-wide program designed to strengthen ethical standards, enhance professional conduct, and fortify the institutional image of the Service through increased integrity and accountability.

A press statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Emmanuel Tangwa, noted that the program aims to entrench public confidence in customs operations.

While declaring the session open, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Usman Yahaya, urged officers to engage deeply with the training modules. 

He famously described reputation as a currency more valuable than money, likening it to a shadow that follows an individual everywhere. Yahaya emphasized that officers must build their reputations with integrity and defend them with courage, as personal conduct invariably reflects on the entire organization.

The training featured five expert facilitators who guided the management and staff through specialized modules. 

Lead resource person Deputy Comptroller Jacob Onele, who oversees Revenue, delivered a comprehensive session on the practical application of reputation management within the NCS. 

He underscored the importance of the Reputation Management Handbook, declaring it compulsory reading for all personnel. 

Onele further explained that public perception is shaped by officer conduct, communication styles, operational transparency, and the overall tone of interactions during the clearance process. 

He concluded that the strength of the NCS lies not just in enforcement, but in the trust built during every professional engagement.

Addressing the complexities of crisis management, Assistant Comptroller OE Ita, the Acting Deputy Comptroller of Administration, discussed the fallout of public backlash resulting from misconduct. 

He provided practical steps for managing such crises to prevent long-term damage and restore public faith. 

Complementing this, Assistant Comptroller MS Abdullahi, the Command’s Chief Examiner, spoke on navigating media controversies and misinformation. 

He advised officers to avoid public arguments and instead employ a SWOT analysis before responding to sensitive issues, ensuring all actions align with official communication protocols.

Further insights were provided by Deputy Comptroller HA Barka, Team Manager of the Customs Intelligence Unit, who focused on operational lapses and corruption allegations. 

Barka distinguished between unintentional errors and deliberate acts of corruption, urging officers to use approved communication channels to safeguard the Service's image. 

The technical sessions concluded with an engaging presentation by Deputy Comptroller BA Lawson Wadike on the "Golden 7Cs" for customs officers. 

He described these principles as a compass guiding personnel toward honor, duty, and professionalism in national service.

The program concluded with interactive syndicate discussions and Q&A segments, where officers analyzed practical scenarios to proffer solutions for reputational challenges. 

Participants praised the initiative, acknowledging that the misconduct of a single individual can tarnish the collective reputation of the Service. 

The consensus among the officers was that reputation management begins with individual accountability, reinforcing a renewed commitment to ethical excellence at the Ibeto Command.

By Bon Peters/Editor