In a landmark achievement for Nigeria, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has been elected as the new Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, making him the first Nigerian to hold the position since the WCO’s establishment in 1953.

The election was confirmed during the 145th/146th sessions of the WCO Council, held at the organization’s headquarters in Brussels. The council is the governing body of the WCO and comprises heads of 186 customs administrations globally.

According to a statement released by the WCO on Saturday, Adeniyi’s tenure will officially begin on July 1, 2025.

“The WCO Council, the governing body of the organization, comprising the Heads of 186 Customs administrations, has formally endorsed Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General @CustomsNG, as its Chairperson from 1 July 2025,” the statement read.

The meeting was presided over by the outgoing Chair, Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, whose two-year term concluded with the recent session.

Adeniyi Commits to Strategic Vision

In his acceptance remarks, Adeniyi thanked council members for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to focus on advancing the WCO’s Strategic Plan for 2025–2028.

“I am honoured by this opportunity and remain committed to building on the progress already made. I look forward to working closely with the Secretariat and regional Vice-Chairs towards the effective implementation of our shared goals and the continued modernization of the WCO,” he stated.

WCO Secretary-General, Ian Saunders, also congratulated Adeniyi, expressing strong optimism about his leadership.

“My deepest congratulations go to Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi on his election. I look forward to working with him closely as we navigate the evolving global customs landscape,” Saunders said.

He also lauded Kieswetter for advancing the WCO’s modernization efforts during his tenure, highlighting the transition from strategic concept to implementation.

The WCO also announced the appointment of new regional Vice-Chairs: the United Kingdom for the Europe Region, and South Africa for the East and Southern Africa Region.