The Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi has been elected as the Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the highest decision-making body in global customs administration.
In a statement on Saturday, NCS’ National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada.said that Adeniyi was elected during the 145th/146th WCO Council meeting held on Saturday at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels.
According to the statement, the election is coming exactly two years after his historic appointment as the Customs CC by President Bola Tinubu.
He explained that Adeniyi succeeded Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, making him the first Nigerian to hold the office since the WCO’s establishment.
Reacting to the appointment, Adeniyi expressed profound appreciation to the council members for the confidence reposed in his leadership, describing the moment as both humbling and historic for Nigeria and the African Customs Community at large.
‘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 the Chairperson.
He pledged unwavering support for the WCO’s ongoing modernisation efforts affirming his commitment to implementing its 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 acknowledged the commendable work of his predecessor, Edward Kieswetter, providing guidance and stability to the council, adding that his leadership laid a solid foundation upon which current reforms can thrive.
The CGC further expressed optimism towards the coming sessions of the council, stressing his readiness to facilitate meaningful dialogue and progress among the global customs community.
The WCO Council is the organisation’s supreme governing body, established by the Convention on Establishing a Customs Co-operation Council. Its core mandate promotes uniformity, modernisation, and global best practices among customs administrations. All WCO working bodies report to the council, whose policy decisions guide the operations of customs administrations across its 185 member states.
As Chairperson, CGC Adeniyi is expected to provide strategic leadership to the WCO Policy Commission, steering the global customs agenda and facilitating high-level discussions on trade facilitation, revenue optimisation, security, cross-border cooperation, and digital transformation.
