President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Dr. Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, on his 60th birthday, praising his transformative leadership and far-reaching reforms that have repositioned the Service.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President described the milestone as a testament to Dr. Adeniyi’s decades of dedicated service to the nation and his impactful stewardship of the NCS.
President Tinubu noted that since assuming office, the Comptroller-General has driven landmark reforms aimed at graduating the NCS into a globally competitive and relevant institution. He highlighted the international recognition of these efforts with Dr. Adeniyi’s election as Chairman of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in June 2025.
The President commended Dr. Adeniyi for projecting Nigeria and Africa on the global stage through inclusive, practical and charismatic leadership at the WCO, as well as for rallying customs administrations and key stakeholders toward the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) via the C-PACT platform.
According to the statement, President Tinubu also acknowledged the integration of the Authorized Economic Operator Programme in Nigeria, supported by the WCO, which has improved cargo clearance times, enhanced revenue performance and strengthened partnerships with traders. The adoption of the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade was also cited as a major achievement.
The President affirmed that internal reforms within the Service such as automation and digitization of operations, upskilling and training of officers, high-level diplomacy, and the adoption of global best practices have translated into measurable gains in trade facilitation and revenue collection.
He further praised the visionary leadership of the Customs boss for fostering better community relations, consistently surpassing revenue targets, enhancing trade partnerships with countries and multilateral institutions, and improving border security.
As Dr. Adeniyi mark his 60th birthday, President Tinubu prayed for God’s continued guidance, good health and strength for him to sustain his service to the nation.
