Tunde Bakare
The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has praised the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its remarkable strides in customs modernisation and trade facilitation.
The recognition came during the 145th/146th Sessions Opening of the Customs Co-operation Council, held on Thursday, June 26th, 2025, at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, who delivered the keynote address at the opening of the Council Sessions, while making her remarks, applauded the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the Service’s continued efforts in aligning its operations with international trade standards.
In her remarks, she acknowledged the significant progress made by the Nigeria Customs 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 stated.
The WTO Director-General also addressed 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 in a side interaction with the DG, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, 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,” 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 CGC also expressed support for the growing collaboration between the World Customs Organisation and the World Trade Organisation, especially in the wake of the Memorandum of Understanding 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,” CGC Adeniyi noted. “Nigeria is fully aligned with the objectives of this partnership and remains committed to implementing reforms that support transparent, secure, and efficient trade flows.”
The Service 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.