The comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has been elected as the chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council.

The election took place during the concluding session of the 145th/146th WCO Council meeting held at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Mr Adeniyi succeeds Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, and becomes the first Nigerian to hold the prestigious office since the WCO’s establishment.

The WCO Council is the highest decision-making body in global customs administration.

It comprises the heads of customs administrations from all WCO member countries. It is responsible for setting the organisation’s strategic direction, adopting international customs standards, and overseeing the implementation of its policies.

Reacting to the appointment, Mr Adeniyi thanked the council members for the confidence placed in his leadership, describing the moment as humbling and historic for Nigeria and the broader African customs community.

The chairperson stated that the new position reflected the collective progress of the NCS and the transformative agenda the service had pursued over the past two years.

He assured the council of his commitment to upholding the core values of the WCO and fostering partnerships to facilitate global trade.

Mr Adeniyi pledged unwavering support for the WCO’s ongoing modernisation efforts and reaffirmed his commitment to implementing its 2025-2028 Strategic Plan.

The comptroller-general said the WCO is entering a critical phase in the evolution of global trade, one in which customs administrations must balance facilitation with enforcement, transparency with innovation, and sovereignty with cooperation.

He assured that he would work closely with member administrations and stakeholders to position the WCO as a dynamic, forward-looking institution equipped to meet the evolving challenges of the global trade environment.

The chairperson acknowledged his predecessor, Edward Kieswetter, for laying a solid foundation on which current reforms can thrive.

He expressed optimism about the upcoming council sessions and affirmed his readiness to facilitate meaningful dialogue and progress within the global customs community.

The WCO Council was established by the Convention on the Establishment of a Customs Cooperation Council with a core mandate of promoting 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, Mr Adeniyi is expected to provide strategic leadership to the WCO Policy Commission.

He is also tasked with steering the global customs agenda and facilitating high-level discussions on trade facilitation, revenue optimisation, security, cross-border cooperation, and digital transformation.

According to the NCS spokesperson, under Mr Adeniyi’s administration, Nigeria is poised to drive customs reform discussions across the Global South.

He said this is particularly in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the suppression of illicit trade, and the adoption of modern technology.

Mr Maiwada said the NCS boss would also work closely with the WCO Secretary-General, Ian Saunders, and the WCO secretariat to ensure the implementation of the organisation’s strategic plan.

He added that the new chairperson would champion greater inclusivity, capacity development, and sustainability in customs operations, particularly for developing countries.

(NAN)