Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, has been chosen Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation, the world’s highest decision-making body for customs administration.
Abdullahi Maiwada, the service’s National Public Relations Officer, said this in a statement released on Saturday.
Maiwada went on to say that Adeniyi was elected during the 145th/146th WCO Council meeting, which took place on Saturday at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels.
According to the statement, the election would take place exactly two years after President Bola Tinubu appointed him as customs commissioner.
He explained that Adeniyi succeeded Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, and became the first Nigerian to hold the position since the WCO’s inception.
In response to the appointment, Adeniyi expressed heartfelt gratitude to the council members for their faith in his leadership, calling the occasion both humbling and significant for Nigeria and the African Customs Community as a whole.
“This honour is not mine alone; it reflects the collective progress of the NCS and the transformative agenda we have pursued over the past two years.
“I pledge to uphold the core values of the WCO while promoting innovation, equity, and deeper collaboration among member states in response to the complex realities of global trade,” Adeniyi said.
The CGC also thanked the council for electing him as chairperson.
He expressed unflinching support for the WCO’s ongoing modernisation initiatives, as well as his commitment to achieving the organisation’s 2025-2028 strategic plan.
“We are entering a critical phase in the evolution of global trade, where customs must balance facilitation with enforcement, transparency with innovation, and sovereignty with cooperation. I intend to work closely with member administrations and stakeholders to position the WCO as a dynamic, forward-looking institution fit for today’s challenges,” he said.
Adeniyi praised his predecessor, Edward Kieswetter, for bringing guidance and stability to the council and said his leadership built a solid basis for current reforms to succeed.
The CGC expressed excitement about the council’s upcoming sessions, emphasising his willingness to encourage meaningful debate and development among the global customs community.
The WCO Council is the organisation’s highest governing body, as established under the Convention on Establishing a Customs Co-operation Council. Its primary goal is to promote consistency, modernisation, and worldwide best practices among customs administrations.
All WCO working bodies report to the council, which makes policy decisions that govern customs administrations in its 185 member states.
As Chairperson, CGC Adeniyi is expected to guide the WCO Policy Commission’s global customs agenda and facilitate high-level conversations on trade facilitation, revenue optimisation, security, cross-border cooperation, and digital transformation.
