The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its progress in customs modernisation and trade facilitation under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
The recognition was made during the opening of the 145th/146th Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council, held at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) headquarters in Brussels.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the NCS’s adoption of technology, improvements in border procedures, and compliance frameworks as key indicators of reform. She noted that the reforms implemented under CGC Adeniyi’s leadership had positioned Nigeria as a continental model for customs modernisation.
She further stressed the importance of addressing technical customs challenges such as rules of origin and valuation, noting their relevance to global trade facilitation efforts.
“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.
In a side meeting with the WTO DG, CGC Adeniyi described the commendation as an affirmation of Nigeria’s reform agenda and a motivator to sustain momentum.
He reiterated the Service’s commitment to automation, transparency, and innovative practices that align with international standards.
Adeniyi also expressed Nigeria’s support for the WTO-WCO collaboration, strengthened by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2025. The agreement fosters cooperation in customs valuation, rules of origin, and trade facilitation.
“We are honoured by the kind words of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a global icon and an advocate for inclusive trade,” CGC Adeniyi said.
“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.”
The NCS stated that the enhanced partnership between the WTO and WCO is expected to benefit developing countries by supporting policy frameworks and providing technical tools to modernise customs operations and improve global competitiveness.
