The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital intelligence tools to monitor online information, counter misinformation and combat internet-based scams.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja by the service’s spokesperson, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada.

Adeniyi spoke at the 2026 Nigerian Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Roundtable, themed Algorithm Influence and Public Relations.

He said the initiative would enable the service to monitor digital platforms, verify information and respond to misleading narratives that could undermine public confidence in its operations.

The Customs chief stressed the importance of effective communication in helping Nigerians understand the reasons behind the actions and enforcement activities of officers.

He explained that AI was already being used in the service’s core operations, particularly in risk management, where imported goods were assessed and classified according to their respective risk levels to determine appropriate interventions.

According to him, the technology could also analyse public sentiment and provide insights into how Nigerians perceive the service’s activities.

Adeniyi added that the NCS was leveraging digital platforms to establish facts and collaborating with relevant agencies to identify and apprehend individuals responsible for spreading misleading information.

He said the adoption of AI in strategic communication would complement its existing operational applications and strengthen the service’s ability to respond to emerging challenges in the digital environment.

Earlier, the convener of the roundtable, Nkechi Ali-Balogun, said public relations professionals needed to play a leading role in shaping national discourse rather than limiting their responsibilities to managing organisational messages.

She noted that algorithms and artificial intelligence were increasingly influencing how information reached the public, shaped opinions and circulated across digital platforms.

The roundtable examined the implications of emerging technologies for public relations practice and the need to sustain credible communication in an increasingly technology-driven society.