Adeniyi: Lifting Nigeria to the Pinnacle of Global Customs Authority
By Abdulsalam Mahmud
There are moments in a nation’s journey that signal a quiet but undeniable shift. Not the kind that makes headline noise for a day, but the kind that echoes through corridors of diplomacy, trade, and international cooperation.
Nigeria had one of those moments in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, recently, where its distinguished career customs officer stood before a hall of global delegates and was unanimously elected to lead the highest decision-making body in world customs administration.
Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, was not handed this honour by accident. His ascent reflects a steady climb built on years of institutional reform, digital innovation, and a growing presence in regional and international customs circles.
For many in Nigeria’s policy and trade community, his election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council was a culmination of years of groundwork and growing credibility.
It also signalled something more: that Africa, and Nigeria in particular, is no longer content to sit at the margins of global trade conversations. It was a bold handover.
In one symbolic sweep, the South African flag was lowered, and Nigeria’s was raised at WCO headquarters—signifying a leadership shift not just between individuals, but between nations and philosophies.
In an era where global trade faces disruptive challenges—from border insecurity to illicit financial flows and smuggling—Adeniyi’s leadership comes at a time when fresh thinking is desperately needed.
The timing could not be more significant. Just two years ago, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him Comptroller-General in what many described as a strategic choice.
That decision is now bearing global fruit. So when he took the reins at the 145th/146th WCO Council meetings in Brussels, it was not just a personal milestone. It was Nigeria’s declaration that it is ready to lead, not just follow.
The election, held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, brought together customs chiefs and policymakers from 185 member states. CGC Adeniyi emerged as the consensus choice to lead the WCO Council, succeeding South Africa’s Edward Kieswetter.
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His appointment marks the first time a Nigerian has chaired the Council since the WCO’s inception. In his acceptance remarks, Adeniyi called the moment “humbling and historic,” not just for him personally, but for Nigeria and the African customs community.
He said the honour reflected the collective achievements of the Nigeria Customs, and pledged to promote innovation, equity, and collaboration among member states in addressing global trade realities.
He further promised to support the WCO’s 2025–2028 Strategic Plan and pledged Nigeria’s commitment to balancing trade facilitation with enforcement, transparency with innovation, and sovereignty with international cooperation.
The Nigerian Customs boss also acknowledged his predecessor’s role in laying a solid foundation and promised to advance that legacy.
His role as Chairperson will include steering policy discussions, strengthening institutional partnerships, and working alongside the WCO Secretary-General Ian Saunders to drive strategic reforms in global customs administration.
As the new face of customs leadership, CGC Adeniyi will also represent the WCO at high-level international gatherings and help shape the future of cross-border trade through dialogue with private sector stakeholders and global trade institutions.
Under his guidance, the WCO will likely focus more on issues that affect the Global South—from the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to technology adoption in low-resource settings, and the suppression of illicit trade.
In a rapidly evolving global economy, Adeniyi’s chairmanship offers a rare chance for Africa to bring its customs priorities to the centre of international discourse.
For Nigeria, this is a moment of both pride and possibility. The world is watching. The Adeniyi-led Customs Service is no longer just about ports and checkpoints; it is now a vehicle of soft power, economic diplomacy, and national influence.
In CGC Adeniyi, Nigeria has not just a reformer—but a global ambassador of what customs leadership can look like in the 21st century.
And now, with the Nigerian flag flying high in Brussels, the rest of the world must adjust to a new voice at the table—one that speaks not only for Nigeria, but for a continent ready to lead.
Mahmud, Deputy Editor of PRNigeria, can be reached at: [email protected].
