NCS, ACSPN Mobilise Media Against AI Disinformation Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) have called for stronger collaboration between media practitioners and communication experts to combat the growing threat of artificial intelligence-driven disinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The call was made on Monday, August 31, 2026, when the executive members of ACSPN visited the NCS National Headquarters in Abuja to explore areas of cooperation in media, digital communication and professional development.

Speaking during a joint press briefing, ACSPN President, Professor Rotimi Williams Olatunji, urged media organisations to strengthen their capacity to detect and counter misinformation, disinformation and AI-manipulated content, particularly deepfakes.

Olatunji said the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and digital platforms was creating new challenges for the media and could complicate the information environment ahead of the 2027 elections.

He called on news organisations to make fact-checking an integral part of their editorial processes, stressing that Nigerians would increasingly rely on credible media platforms to distinguish verified information from fabricated content.

The ACSPN president also advocated stronger partnerships between communication scholars and journalists to promote fact-based public discourse and improve citizens’ understanding of electoral issues.

He disclosed that the association’s 2026 National Conference would focus on the theme, “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruptions and Dynamics of Communication.”

According to him, the conference will examine the influence of artificial intelligence, social media and other digital platforms on political communication as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections.

Earlier, the National Public Relations Officer and spokesperson of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, said effective communication remained critical to the success of institutional reforms.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, Maiwada said the Service had continued to use its monthly newsletter, social media platforms and data analytics to improve communication and engagement with the public.

He emphasised the need to integrate communication into institutional reforms, stressing that communication must be embedded in every reform process to ensure its success.

Maiwada also highlighted the NCS’s growing engagement with the creative industry, citing its one-off movie, Beyond the Badge, and the 79-episode series, Novera, which he said had begun generating revenue for the Service while creating employment opportunities in the entertainment sector.

He announced plans to expand the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN) to Lagos and disclosed that the Service was considering corporate membership of ACSPN, while encouraging its public relations officers to join the professional association.

In response, Olatunji commended Maiwada for his support for ACSPN and welcomed the proposed institutional partnership.

He pledged the association’s support for Customs personnel seeking higher academic and professional qualifications.

The engagement ended with a tour of key facilities at the NCS headquarters, including the Information and Communication Technology/Modernisation Department and the NCBN studios, where the delegation received briefings on the Service’s digital operations and media strategy.