Nigeria’s election as Chairman of the World Customs Organization (WCO) — the global umbrella body for over 180 Customs Administrations controlling 98% of world trade — has been described as a turning point that could reshape Africa’s trade destiny.
On July 1, 2025, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, made history as the first Nigerian and one of the few Africans to chair the WCO since its establishment in 1953.
Speaking at a one-day seminar organized by the League of Maritime Editors (LOME) in Lagos, Dr. Eugene Nweke, Head of Research at Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC), said Nigeria’s new position was not accidental but a reward for bold reforms introduced by Adeniyi’s administration.
According to him, these reforms — from Time Release Studies that identified port bottlenecks, to data-driven cargo clearance, Advance Ruling Applications for tariff clarity, Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) incentives for compliant traders, the B’Odogwu digital trade platform, and Rapid Scanners for faster inspections — have modernized Nigeria’s Customs operations and placed the country on the global trade map.
“These reforms form a springboard for Nigeria’s WCO leadership,” Nweke said. “But the real test is how this leadership will accelerate Africa’s integration under AfCFTA, harmonize Customs procedures, and position Nigeria’s ports as continental trade hubs.”
However, he warned that Nigeria’s leadership must not be symbolic. For Africa to truly benefit, Nigeria must overcome its infrastructure deficits, policy inconsistencies, bureaucracy, and corruption, all of which continue to cripple trade competitiveness.
In her remarks, Mrs. Remi Itie, President of LOME, hailed Adeniyi’s election as “a historic moment for Nigeria and Africa,” stressing that his role would allow Nigeria to drive global Customs conversations on trade facilitation, technology adoption, security, and illicit trade suppression.
She added that hoisting Nigeria’s flag at the WCO headquarters was not just symbolic but a powerful statement of Nigeria’s growing influence in global trade diplomacy.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to distinguished stakeholders, led by retired Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Charles Edike.
With Adeniyi at the helm of WCO, maritime stakeholders insist Nigeria must now match prestige with performance — by turning its historic seat into a platform for real reforms that shape Africa’s trade future.
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