Customs Deploys AI Tools to Track Fake News, Online Scams

By Zainab Uzomah | Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it is deploying artificial intelligence and digital data-tracking tools to identify and tackle fake news, online scams and misleading information targeting the Service.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening the Service’s digital communication strategy, tracking public sentiment and ensuring that accurate information about its operations reaches Nigerians.

The National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this on Friday, October 30, 2026, while representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the Neccipr Roundtable 2026 in Lagos.

The event, organised under the theme, Algorithm Influence and Public Relations, examined the growing influence of artificial intelligence and digital platforms on public perception and information management.

Maiwada said artificial intelligence had become an important component of Customs operations, particularly in risk management, intelligence gathering and strategic communication.

He explained that the technology was being used to assess the risks associated with imported goods and classify them according to their risk levels to guide appropriate Customs interventions.

According to him, AI also provides tools for analysing public sentiment and understanding how Nigerians perceive the activities of the Service.

He said Customs was leveraging available digital platforms to establish facts, counter misleading narratives and work with relevant agencies to identify and apprehend individuals involved in spreading false information.

Maiwada stressed that effective public communication required ensuring that Nigerians understood the reasons behind the actions and decisions of Customs officers in carrying out their statutory responsibilities.

Earlier, convener of the roundtable, Nkechi Ali-Balogun, said the increasing influence of algorithms and artificial intelligence had changed how information was produced, distributed and consumed.

She said public relations practitioners must go beyond managing organisational messages to actively participate in shaping national conversations and protecting the credibility of information.

Ali-Balogun noted that algorithms could influence political narratives, amplify conspiracy theories and determine the information millions of people encounter daily.

She challenged communication professionals to examine who controls the flow of information in an increasingly technology-driven society and how such influence affects public opinion.

The roundtable also featured keynote addresses by the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ike Neliaku, and former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, alongside other invited dignitaries.

The discussions focused on the implications of algorithm-driven information distribution for public relations practice and the need for professionals to uphold credibility, transparency and responsible communication in the digital age.