By George Ozalla
The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its remarkable strides in customs modernisation and trade facilitation. The recognition was made during the 145th/146th Sessions Opening of the Customs Co-operation Council, held on June 26th, 2025, at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala 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. She acknowledged the significant progress made by the Nigeria Customs Service in deploying technology, strengthening border procedures, and improving compliance frameworks.
According to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, “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.”
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, described the recognition as a strong encouragement for the Service to sustain its reform momentum. He stated that the commendation affirms that the reforms embarked upon by the Service, particularly in areas of automation, transparency, institutional capacity, and innovative leadership, are well aligned with global best practices.
CGC Adeniyi 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.
The Nigeria Customs 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.
