Nigeria and Africa, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has been unanimously elected Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council—the body’s highest decision-making forum becoming the first Nigerian ever to hold the position since the WCO’s inception in 1952.
The election took place at the closing session of the 145th/146th WCO Council meetings at the WCO headquarters in Brussels. CGC Adeniyi, who was appointed Comptroller‑General in June 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, succeeds South Africa’s Edward Kieswetter in a post that carries immense influence in global customs policymaking.
A Journey of Leadership and Reform
Born in Modakeke, Osun State on January 19, 1966, Adeniyi studied International Relations at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and later earned a Master’s degree in Communication Science in Switzerland. He joined the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in 1990, rising through the ranks via several high-profile roles most notably as Public Relations Officer and Commandant of the Command & Staff College—before being appointed Acting CGC in June 2023 and confirmed in October the same year.
Under his leadership, the NCS achieved a record N1.3 trillion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025, attributed to operational reforms including digitisation, anti-leakage crackdowns, and streamlined port processes. His administration has also focused heavily on trade facilitation and border efficiency, aligning Nigeria with international customs best practices.
Upon his election, Adeniyi expressed humility and a strong resolve to advance the WCO’s values of innovation, equity, and cooperation. “This honour reflects the collective progress of the Nigeria Customs Service and the transformative agenda we have pursued,” he said. He pledged to lead the implementation of the WCO Strategic Plan for 2025–2028, emphasizing balanced priorities such as trade facilitation, revenue optimisation, border security, digital transformation, and international cooperation.
WCO Secretary-General Ian Saunders congratulated Adeniyi, praising his continuity and commitment to modernising global customs operations. World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also commended his leadership at the Council session, citing Nigeria’s progress in aligning customs operations with global standards through enhanced technology, compliance frameworks, and border procedures.
