The Nigeria Customs Service is set to partner a United States firm, Bruit Costaud, an affiliate of Ballard Partners, to bolster its communication and policy advocacy to enhance revenue generation.
The partnership is also to help enhance efforts to tackle smuggling.
The Comptroller General, NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Saturday while receiving the Bruit Costaud team led by former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who is the Senior Consultant, Government Affairs, Bruit Costaud.
Adeniyi said the venture is expected to plant the seeds of effective communication on fertile ground, reaping benefits for both the Nigeria Customs Service and the public it serves.
“The proposal presented by Bruit Costaud will be treated as a valuable resource, as the NCS is ready to embrace new ideas and innovation in its pursuit of efficient services,” Adeniyi said.
Meanwhile, Lai Mohammed said the firm is renowned for its track record in providing comprehensive political and legislative counsel services that would help government bridge the gap between policy formulation and public awareness.
“We have come here to introduce our firm. Ballard is a US firm of lobbyists and public relations and we represent them not just in Nigeria, but in Africa. So, we’re not just an affiliate of other partners, I am also a Ballad partner worldwide.
“We offer strategic communications, not because we believe that the directors of communications are not competent, but because we believe that we can add value to what they do. Even as a former Minister for Information and Culture, I also needed the services of consultants,” he said.
Others present at the event were former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, and former Minister of State Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, both of whom are senior advisors of the firm; and a senior consultant, Government Affairs, Olajumoke Bamigbola.