President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on his historic election as Chairperson of the Council of the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
Adeniyi was unanimously elected on Saturday in Brussels, becoming the first Nigerian to lead the 73-year-old global customs body, which comprises 186 member nations and serves as the highest decision-making authority in international customs administration.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu extended his congratulations to Adeniyi, as well as to the board, management, and staff of the Nigeria Customs Service, describing the election as a moment of national pride and international validation.
The president noted that the symbolic hoisting of the Nigerian flag at the WCO headquarters in Brussels marks a major milestone. It was the first time Nigeria’s flag had been raised at the organization’s headquarters since its establishment in 1952.
President Tinubu highlighted the achievements of Adeniyi over the past two years, citing improvements in revenue generation, stakeholder engagement, operational modernization, and digital transformation across the service.
“I congratulate the Customs boss for bringing pride and validation to our country and the economic reforms. I urge the new Chairperson of the WCO to live up to the expectation of the WCO Council and even surpass it,” the President said.
The President also expressed appreciation to the Secretary-General and leaders of the WCO for their confidence in Nigeria’s customs leadership and assured that his administration would support Adeniyi in his new international role.
Adeniyi will officially assume leadership of the WCO Council on July 1, 2025, succeeding Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service.
The WCO Council serves as the supreme governing body of the organisation, with oversight over working bodies and responsibility for shaping global customs policy, uniformity, and modernization among its member states.