WCO Council Chairmanship: A New Era for Nigeria and Africa

WCO Council Chairmanship: A New Era for Nigeria and Africa

By prince Benson Davies

In a landmark development, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has been unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, the highest decision-making body in global customs administration. This historic appointment marks a significant milestone for Nigeria and the African Customs community.

The election, held on June 28, 2025, at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, sees CGC Adeniyi succeed Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service. He becomes the first Nigerian to hold this prestigious office since the WCO’s establishment.

Reacting to his appointment, CGC Adeniyi expressed gratitude to the Council members for entrusting him with this leadership role. “This honour reflects the collective progress of the Nigeria Customs Service and our transformative agenda,” he stated. “As Chairperson, I pledge to uphold the WCO’s core values, promote innovation, equity, and deeper collaboration among member states.”

As Chairperson, CGC Adeniyi will provide strategic leadership to the WCO Policy Commission, drive the global customs agenda, and facilitate high-level discussions on trade facilitation, revenue optimisation, security, and digital transformation. He will work closely with the WCO Secretary-General and Secretariat to implement the organisation’s Strategic Plan.

The WCO Council is the organisation’s supreme governing body, promoting uniformity, modernisation, and global best practices among customs administrations. With 185 member states, CGC Adeniyi’s leadership will have a far-reaching impact on global customs affairs.

Under his chairmanship, Nigeria is poised to drive customs reform conversations across the Global South, particularly in areas like AfCFTA implementation, illicit trade suppression, and technology adoption.