President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, on his election as Chairperson of the WCO Council.
Adeniyi was unanimously elected on Saturday in Brussels to lead the World Customs Organisation (WCO), which consists of 186 member nations.
He becomes the first Nigerian to head the 73-year-old global organisation dedicated to customs cooperation and standards.
The congratulatory message is contained in a statement by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday in Abuja.
Tinubu extended congratulations to Adeniyi, the NCS board, management, and staff for attaining global recognition and honour.
He described the hoisting of Nigeria’s flag at the WCO headquarters as a significant milestone for the nation.
“I congratulate the Customs boss for bringing pride and validation to our country and economic reforms,” President Tinubu said.
He urged Adeniyi to meet, and even surpass, the expectations of the WCO Council in his new global leadership role.
The President also thanked the WCO Secretary-General and Council members for their unanimous support for Adeniyi’s candidacy.
He assured the international community that his administration would support Adeniyi’s stewardship of the Council.
Adeniyi succeeds Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, as Chairperson of the WCO Council.
He will officially assume duties on July 1 and begin leading the international customs body.
The WCO Council is the organisation’s highest decision-making body.
It is tasked with promoting uniformity, innovation, and best practices in customs administration worldwide.
All WCO working groups report to the Council, which drives customs policy across the organisation’s 186 member countries.
