By Stephen Ubanna
Not many were surprised that Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, was elected the Chairperson of the World Customs Organization, WCO, by the 186 -member nations at the 145th and 146th sessions at the Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, with effect from July 1st, 2025.
This is because of the strong Leadership of the Customs Administrations in Nigeria which had resulted in enhanced trade facilitation, improved revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations. The introduction of the B’Odogwu platform, which is an indigenous technology developed by the Service to replace the Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System, which was a foreign technology operated by Webb Fontaine for year years may have further exposed Adeniyi as a true Leader.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Government had engaged the services of Webb Fontaine, to manage the NICIS, a mandate to automate and standardize Customs procedures for import and export to enhance efficiency, improve user experience and streamline clearance process but that was how far the foreign company could go.
The introduction of the B’Odogwu and its pilot at Port Multi-services Terminal Limited, PTML, and subsequent of the advanced technology to Apapa and Tin-can Island Commands may have been applauded at the WCO, as a major achievement.
Only recently, the B’Odogwu system was extended to Port Harcourt II, Command, Onne, and which had taken the Service revenue collection to another level that it can compete with other Customs Administrations that had developed a similar technology in revenue generation.
An elated Adeniyi, who could not hide his feelings had declared ‘’I want to acknowledge the handwork of Edward Kiieswetter, the immediate Chairperson whose guidance and stability provided strong leadership for the Council’’, pledging ‘’to build on the progress that had been made so far in the development of the strategic plan for 2025- 2028’’.
He may have gladdened the heart of officials of the WCO Secretariat when he gave his words ‘’to work with Secretariat staff and Vice -Chairs towards ‘’its diligent implementation of the 2025-2028 plan and WCO modernization’’.
Note that the Council, currently headed by Nigerian born Adeniyi is the supreme decision-making body of the WCO, which plays a crucial role in promoting uniformity , modernization and global best practices among Customs Administrations and Convenes once a year. It is this during this Council yearly sessions, that The Value News online Magazine was told that final decisions regarding the Organization’s work and activities are agreed upon.
All WCO working bodies report to the Council, whose policy decisions guide the operations of Customs Administrations across its 186 member nations. There is no gain saying the fact the Customs Comptroller General, who already have his full because of the reforms being implemented in the NNCS, has a vital role to role in the WCO Council, in the next three years, in bringing together members views to guide the work of the global Customs Community.
Ian Saunders, the WCO, Secretary General, may have given the new Chairperson, Adeniyi, a cause to cheer, when he assured of engaging closely with him to ensure that the Council is fit ‘’to navigate the evolving global Customs Landscape’’.
While CGC. Adeniyi, was being celebrated at WCO, circles as the new elected Chairperson of the Council to replicate his Leadership skills in reforming and modernizing the Nigeria Customs Administration at the global level,
President Bola Amed Tinubu, had said that his unanimous election by the 186 member-nations of the Council of the WCO, was a clear indication that he can deliver on his mandate. Applauding the Board, Management, officers and men of the NCS, for the recognition of Adeniyi at the global level, the Nigerian President believes that ‘’the hoisting of the Nigerian Flag at the Customs Headquarters in Brussels, Capital of Belgium marks a significant milestone in the Service’’.
Going down the memory lane, he noted that ‘’it is the first time the Nigerian Flag has been raised at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels since it was found in 1952. He had said that the event demonstrates ‘’the dynamism of the Leadership that had been provided by Adeniyi, who had been at the helms of the NCS, since his appointment two years ago’’.
He had alluded to the increased revenue collections between June 2023 and now, consistently surpassing budgetary targets, improved relations with other security agencies and stakeholders just as he had modernized Customs operations and digitalized processes of clearance of imported goods at the nation’s seaports, airports and Land border stations across the country for effectiveness.
Giving Kudos to Adeniyi, the Customs Comptroller General ‘’for bring pride and validation to Nigeria and the ongoing economic reforms’, President Tinubu, had urged the Nigerian born new Chairperson of WCO, ‘’to live to the expectation of the Organization and even surpass it’’.
He was said to have also thanked Mr. Saunders, the Secretary General and other WCO, Leaders for unanimously electing Adeniyi, the NCS, boss and assures that his Administration will support his Leadership of the Council, who is expected to official begin guiding the global Institution.
