Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- THE Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has been re-elected Chairperson of the Council of the World Customs Organization (WCO), securing a second term at the helm of the global customs body.
Adeniyi was returned to office during the 147th and 148th Sessions of the WCO Council held in Brussels, extending Nigeria’s leadership of the organisation’s highest decision-making body.
His re-election comes a year after he made history in June 2025 as the first Nigerian to chair the WCO Council since the organisation was established in 1953.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated Adeniyi on the renewed mandate, describing the outcome as a strong endorsement of his leadership and Nigeria’s growing influence in global customs administration.
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In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the unanimous support from member states reflected international recognition of the reforms being implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to the President, his recent decision to extend Adeniyi’s tenure as Comptroller-General was aimed at sustaining the ongoing transformation of the Customs Service and consolidating key institutional reforms.
“The overwhelming endorsement by the international customs community validates Adeniyi’s leadership in consolidating reforms, strengthening institutional capacity, modernising customs administration, and positioning the Nigeria Customs Service among the world’s leading customs institutions,” the statement said.
Tinubu described the re-election as not only a personal achievement for Adeniyi but also a reflection of Nigeria’s increasing prominence in international customs administration and global trade governance.
He noted that under Adeniyi’s leadership, the Customs Service has introduced reforms to improve revenue generation, strengthen border security, facilitate legitimate trade and modernise customs operations.
Among the initiatives highlighted by the President are the deployment of the B’Odogwu customs platform, implementation of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, expansion of non-intrusive cargo inspection technology, enhanced inter-agency collaboration and closer alignment with international customs standards.
According to Tinubu, these reforms have delivered measurable improvements in revenue collection, anti-smuggling operations, stakeholder engagement, trade facilitation and border management.
The President expressed confidence that Adeniyi’s second term as WCO Council Chairperson would deepen international customs cooperation and contribute to building a more secure, efficient and resilient global trading system.
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The re-election comes weeks after Tinubu approved a fresh six-month extension of Adeniyi’s tenure as Comptroller-General of Customs.
The latest extension followed an earlier one-year extension granted in 2025, pushing his expected retirement date beyond August 2026. According to the Presidency, the additional six months will enable him to complete strategic reform initiatives, including the implementation of the National Single Window project, while ensuring a smooth leadership transition within the Nigeria Customs Service.
With his continued leadership at both the national and international levels, Adeniyi is expected to further strengthen Nigeria’s role in shaping global customs administration, trade facilitation and border management policies.
