WCO Policy Session: Adeniyi Showcases Nigeria’s Customs Reforms

By Oluwakemi Kindness

Nigeria’s Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has used his first outing as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council to spotlight the country’s sweeping customs reforms.

According to a statement on Sunday signed by Customs spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, the Customs boss highlighted modernisation gains, faster clearance processes and stronger alignment with international standards as some of the gains of the reforms.

Adeniyi, who presided over the 93rd Session of the WCO Policy Commission in Antigua, Guatemala, from 2nd to 4th of December 2025, told global customs leaders that Nigeria’s recent progress—including its growing Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, Time Release Study (TRS) initiatives and adoption of the SAFE Framework of Standards—demonstrates the country’s commitment to global best practices.

Welcoming Heads of Customs Administrations from the WCO’s six regions, Adeniyi said Nigeria’s reform journey has already produced measurable results, particularly in improved clearance timelines, enhanced revenue collection and deeper trust between the Service and compliant traders.

He noted that the AEO programme, developed with WCO support, has emerged as one of the Nigeria Customs Service’s most impactful innovations, helping to streamline procedures and reinforce a culture of voluntary compliance.

He added that the ongoing work on advance rulings and systems alignment further reflects Nigeria’s ambition to maintain a modern, transparent and predictable customs regime.

The session also featured opening remarks from WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders and Guatemala’s Vice Minister of Public Finance, Patricia Joachin.

Delegates were later hosted to a cultural dinner at the iconic Capuchinas Ruins, showcasing the heritage of the host nation.

Reflecting on his June 2025 election as WCO Council Chair, Adeniyi said the role carries a “major responsibility for Nigeria and for Africa,” stressing that global confidence in his leadership is also an endorsement of the reforms underway back home.

He urged customs administrations to deepen cooperation and leverage their diversity as a source of shared strength. “Our uniqueness is our strength. We must allow that diversity to continue creating opportunities and progress for us,” he said.