Adewale Adeniyi was unanimously re-elected chairperson of the WCO Council for a second term.
Adewale Adeniyi, comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has been unanimously re-elected chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council for a second term.
Adeniyi Re-Elected WCO Council Chair In Brussels
The re-election took place during the organisation’s 147th and 148th council sessions held in Brussels, Belgium. Adewale Adeniyi was first elected chairperson of the WCO Council in June 2025, becoming the first Nigerian to lead the organisation’s governing body since its establishment in 1953.
In a statement on Friday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said President Bola Tinubu described the re-election as a historic endorsement of Adeniyi’s leadership.
“Adeniyi’s unanimous re-election is not only a personal honour to Adeniyi, but also a recognition of Nigeria’s growing influence in global customs administration,” Tinubu said.
The president said Adeniyi’s leadership of the NCS had been marked by bold initiatives that improved revenue generation, strengthened border security, facilitated legitimate trade and modernised customs operations through homegrown innovations such as B’Odogwu.
“Adeniyi’s second term at the WCO would further deepen international collaboration, promote secure and efficient global trade, and bring even greater honour to our country,” Tinubu said.
Tinubu said his recent approval of Adeniyi’s tenure extension as NCS boss was informed by his conviction that the reform momentum within the agency must be sustained. He said the overwhelming endorsement by the international customs community validates Adeniyi’s leadership in consolidating reforms and acknowledges his efforts in strengthening institutional capacity and modernising customs administration.
The president noted that under Adewale Adeniyi’s stewardship, the NCS has recorded significant progress in revenue generation and trade facilitation, alongside milestones in anti-smuggling operations, border management, stakeholder engagement and technology-driven reform.
Tinubu said the B’Odogwu platform is simplifying cargo clearance processes and reducing reliance on foreign systems, adding that it improves transparency and operational efficiency while supporting the federal government’s objective of creating a competitive, technology-driven economy. He also praised the service’s implementation of the authorised economic operator (AEO) programme, the expansion of non-intrusive inspection technology, and the sustained alignment with international customs standards and improved inter-agency collaboration.
Tinubu wished the customs boss continued wisdom, strength and success as he undertakes the responsibilities of his renewed global mandate.
What The WCO Council Re-Election Means For Nigeria
The re-election comes weeks after Adeniyi said the NCS had expanded its international engagement through structured partnerships with more than 20 customs administrations worldwide, focused on knowledge sharing, capacity building and operational cooperation aimed at strengthening border security, facilitating legitimate trade and improving revenue generation.
It also follows Tinubu’s decision on June 19 to extend Adeniyi’s tenure as NCS comptroller-general by six months, adding to an earlier extension granted in July 2025 that had been due to expire on August 1, 2026.
What This Means
A second term at the helm of the WCO Council keeps a Nigerian at the centre of global customs policy for at least another term, giving Nigeria a stronger voice in shaping international trade and border security standards. It also signals continuity for Adewale Adeniyi’s domestic reform agenda at NCS, now that his tenure at home has been extended alongside his global mandate.
