The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has earned high praise from the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for its strides in customs modernisation and trade facilitation.
Speaking at the joint opening of the 145th and 146th Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for steering the Service toward international best practices.
Delivering the keynote address, the WTO DG acknowledged the NCS’s significant progress in deploying technology, strengthening border procedures, and improving regulatory 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 stated.
She also highlighted the importance of addressing key customs challenges, particularly in areas such as rules of origin and valuation issues she described as essential for effective trade facilitation and smoother regional integration.
In a side interaction with the WTO Director-General, CGC Adeniyi described the commendation as a strong source of encouragement for the Service to sustain its ongoing reform drive.
“We are honoured by the kind words of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a global icon and an advocate for inclusive trade,” he said. “Her recognition of our efforts is both humbling and energising. It affirms that our reforms especially in automation, transparency, institutional capacity, and innovative leadership are on the right path.”
He further emphasized Nigeria Customs’ commitment to supporting the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by modernising trade processes and promoting regional collaboration.
CGC Adeniyi also lauded the growing collaboration between the WTO and the WCO, following the Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier in January 2025. The agreement provides a framework for cooperation in key technical 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,” he noted. “Nigeria is fully aligned with this partnership and remains committed to reforms that enhance transparent, secure, and efficient trade flows.”
The NCS reaffirmed that such international cooperation would yield long-term benefits for developing economies like Nigeria by equipping them with tools and policy support needed to modernise customs procedures and boost global competitiveness.
