The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its remarkable strides in customs modernisation and trade facilitation.
The commendation was given at the opening of the 145th/146th Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels.
According to the NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, Okonjo-Iweala, applauded the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for the service’s sustained efforts in aligning its operations with international trade standards.
She acknowledged the significant progress made by the NCS in deploying technology, strengthening border procedures, and improving compliance frameworks.
“The leadership of Adeniyi has positioned Nigeria as a model for customs modernisation across the continent,” Okonjo-Iweala said.
“These efforts are critical to strengthening global trade and ensuring that customs administrations contribute meaningfully to economic development,” she added.
Okonjo-Iweala also emphasised the importance of addressing complex customs issues such as rules of origin and valuation, stating that these technical areas are crucial to effective trade facilitation.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the recognition was a strong encouragement for the service to sustain its reform momentum.
“It affirms that the reforms we have embarked upon, particularly in areas of automation, transparency, institutional capacity, and innovative leadership, are well aligned with global best practices,” Adeniyi said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the growing collaboration between the WCO and the WTO, particularly following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in January.
The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in key areas such as customs valuation, rules of origin, and trade facilitation.
Adeniyi also expressed his commitment to rallying Customs administrations across Africa to fully support the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
As the Nigeria Customs Service continues to modernise its processes and embrace smarter solutions to enhance legitimate trade facilitation, the service remains committed to its role in contributing to the country’s economic development.
