CG Adeniyi’s Leadership Has Positioned Nigeria as Customs Model in Africa – WTO DG, Okonjo-Iweala

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has applauded the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, stating that his leadership has made Nigeria a model for customs modernisation in Africa.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala gave the commendation while delivering the keynote address during the 145th/146th Sessions Opening of the Customs Co-operation Council, held at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, June 26, ,2025.

In her remarks, she commended CGC Adeniyi’s leadership for the NCS‘s continued efforts in aligning its operations with international trade standards.

The WTO DG acknowledged the significant progress made by the Service in deploying technology, strengthening border procedures, and improving compliance frameworks.

“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 that customs administrations contribute meaningfully to economic development,” she said.

She stressed the importance of tackling complex customs issues such as rules of origin and valuation, noting that these technical areas remain critical to effective trade facilitation.

Reacting to the commendation, the Customs boss described the recognition as a strong encouragement for the Service to sustain its reform momentum.

“We are honoured by the kind words of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a global icon and an advocate for inclusive trade. Her recognition of our efforts is not only humbling but also energising. It affirms that the reforms we have embarked upon, particularly in areas of automation, transparency, institutional capacity, and innovative leadership, are well aligned with global best practices.

“As we modernise our processes and embrace smarter solutions to enhance legitimate trade facilitation, we are also committed to rallying Customs administrations across Africa to fully support the objectives of AfCFTA,” he stated.

Adeniyi affirmed the growing collaboration between the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the WTO, especially in the wake of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in January 2025.

The agreement provides a framework for cooperation in key areas such as customs valuation, rules of origin, and trade facilitation.

“We commend WCO Secretary General, Mr. Ian Saunders, for his visionary leadership and for reinforcing synergies between our global institutions. Nigeria is fully aligned with the objectives of this partnership and remains committed to implementing reforms that support transparent, secure, and efficient trade flows,” he added.

He emphasised that the enhanced WTO–WCO partnership would benefit developing countries like Nigeria by providing the tools and policy support needed to modernise customs procedures and boost international competitiveness.

Thelensng