Brussels, Belgium — June 28, 2025 | Nigeria has recorded a major diplomatic and strategic milestone as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, was unanimously elected as Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council.
The historic election took place during the 145th/146th sessions of the WCO Council, held at the organization’s headquarters in Brussels. With this development, Nigeria officially assumes a leading role in shaping global customs administration and trade facilitation policies.
CGC Adeniyi becomes the first Nigerian to chair the WCO Council, a key international body responsible for setting standards, promoting cooperation, and driving innovation among 185 member customs administrations worldwide.
In his acceptance speech, Adeniyi pledged to promote inclusive, technology-driven customs reforms that will foster secure trade, improve revenue generation, and support global economic resilience.
“This is not just a personal honour but a win for Nigeria and Africa at large. It underscores our growing influence in global trade governance and reaffirms our commitment to customs excellence,” he stated.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated CGC Adeniyi on the prestigious appointment, describing it as a testament to Nigeria’s bold reforms in trade and customs modernization.
As WCO Chairperson, Adeniyi is expected to spearhead high-level dialogues on customs innovation, border security, trade digitization, and regional integration, key components of Nigeria’s own reform agenda under his leadership of the NCS.
This global recognition marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s diplomatic and trade relations and is projected to enhance the country’s influence in multilateral trade negotiations, especially under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
