In a major international milestone, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, has been elected as the Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council; the top decision-making body overseeing customs operations in 186 member nations worldwide.
Adeniyi’s appointment, which takes effect on July 1, 2025, was officially confirmed during the 145th/146th sessions of the WCO Council held in Brussels, Belgium. He will succeed Edward Kieswetter, head of South Africa’s Revenue Service, who successfully concluded his two-year term.
The news was shared on Saturday through a statement on the WCO’s official platform.
“The World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, the governing body of the organization comprising the Heads of 186 Customs administrations, has formally endorsed Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, as its Chairperson from 1 July 2025,” the announcement stated.
In his acceptance remarks, Adeniyi expressed deep appreciation for the global trust placed in him and promised to continue the strategic work initiated by his predecessor.
“I hope to build on the progress made so far in the development of the Strategic Plan for 2025–2028,” he said.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with the Secretariat and regional Vice-Chairs to implement the plan and further modernize the WCO.”
The Brussels meeting also saw the selection of new regional Vice-Chairs: the United Kingdom will represent the Europe Region, while South Africa takes up the Vice-Chair role for East and Southern Africa.
WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders congratulated Adeniyi on his appointment, calling it a “critical step” in driving the WCO’s modernization efforts forward. He also praised outgoing chair Kieswetter for his strong leadership during a transformative era for the organization.
“My deepest congratulations go to Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi on his election as Council Chairperson,” Saunders noted.
“I look forward to working closely with him to ensure the WCO is well-positioned to navigate the ever-changing global customs landscape. I also extend heartfelt thanks to Mr. Kieswetter, who guided the Council through the shift from planning to delivery on key modernization goals.”
The WCO Council, which meets annually, sets the tone for international customs operations and reform. As Chairperson, Adeniyi will now play a central role in shaping global customs policies, fostering cooperation among member states, and advancing critical initiatives to modernize trade facilitation and compliance worldwide.
With this election, Adeniyi not only raises Nigeria’s profile on the global stage but also becomes a key figure in steering the future of global customs operations at a time of evolving trade dynamics and security concerns.
