Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- THE Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has said his reappointment as Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council and the six-month extension of his tenure by President Bola Tinubu will accelerate ongoing reforms within the Service and reinforce Nigeria’s standing in global customs administration.
Adeniyi spoke at a reception organised by the NCS management, in Abuja, following his return from Brussels, Belgium, where he attended the 147th and 148th Sessions of the WCO Council.
At the event, the management team congratulated the Comptroller-General on his unanimous re-election for another one-year term as Chairperson of the WCO Council and President Tinubu’s recent approval of a six-month extension of his appointment as Comptroller-General. The management also presented him with a commemorative souvenir in recognition of what it described as his transformative leadership.
Expressing appreciation for the gesture, Adeniyi attributed both achievements to the dedication and professionalism of officers and personnel of the Service.
“I sincerely appreciate your support. I travelled to Brussels believing I was going to hand over the chairmanship of the WCO Council, but the outcome was different. The Council renewed my tenure for another year, and I dedicate this achievement to the entire Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.
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The WCO Council, made up of customs administrations from 187 member countries, is the organisation’s highest decision-making body. Adeniyi’s reappointment is seen as a reflection of Nigeria’s growing influence in customs modernisation, trade facilitation, border security and international customs cooperation.
His renewed international mandate comes shortly after President Tinubu approved the extension of his tenure as Comptroller-General, a decision expected to provide continuity for key institutional reforms already underway in the Service.
Since assuming office, Adeniyi has led several reform initiatives, including the rollout of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, expansion of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, implementation of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, stronger stakeholder engagement and intensified anti-smuggling operations.
He said the confidence reposed in him by both the international customs community and the Federal Government would motivate the Service to consolidate gains in revenue generation, trade facilitation, border security and institutional transformation.
According to him, the renewed mandates represent recognition of the collective commitment, professionalism and resilience of officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service rather than personal achievements.
Industry observers say the twin endorsements are expected to strengthen the Service’s reform agenda, deepen collaboration with international customs administrations and development partners, and position Nigeria to play a more prominent role in shaping global customs policy while promoting secure, efficient and technology-driven cross-border trade.
