The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has commended the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his outstanding leadership and commitment to reforming Nigeria’s customs operations.
The recognition came during the opening of the 145th/146th Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council held on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
Delivering the keynote address at the high-level gathering of global customs leaders, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala praised the strides made by the Nigeria Customs Service in aligning its operations with international trade standards.
She specifically acknowledged the Service’s notable achievements in deploying modern technology, enhancing border management systems, and strengthening compliance and transparency frameworks.
According to her, “The leadership of CGC Adeniyi has positioned Nigeria as a model for customs modernisation across the continent. These efforts are critical to strengthening global trade and ensuring customs administrations play a central role in driving economic development.”
In a brief side interaction with the WTO DG, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi described the commendation as both humbling and inspiring.
He stated that the recognition affirms the strategic direction of the Service’s reforms, which are geared towards automation, institutional strengthening, and innovation in line with global best practices. He reaffirmed NCS’s commitment to the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stressing the importance of Africa led customs transformation.
The CGC also applauded the growing synergy between the WTO and the WCO strengthened by the Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2025 expressing optimism that such global collaborations will further empower developing countries like Nigeria to modernise trade procedures, boost competitiveness, and facilitate seamless cross-border commerce.
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