Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Network of Nigerian Maritime Journalists (NNMJ) has congratulated the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, on his landmark election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, describing the achievement as a historic moment for Nigeria and the global customs community.
In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Dele Aderibigbe, and Secretary, Moses Ebosele, the NNMJ described Adeniyi’s appointment as a source of national pride and a clear testament to Nigeria’s growing influence in international customs administration.
Adeniyi was elected on Saturday, June 28, 2025, during the WCO Council meeting in Brussels, becoming the first Nigerian to head the 73-year-old global organization. The WCO comprises 186 member nations and stands as the apex decision-making body for customs worldwide.
The maritime journalists praised Adeniyi’s exemplary leadership, quoting former U.S. President John Quincy Adams: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
According to the group, Adeniyi’s tenure at the helm of the Nigeria Customs Service has ushered in far-reaching reforms, transforming the NCS into one of the nation’s foremost revenue-generating institutions, second only to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
“On behalf of all maritime journalists in Nigeria, the NNMJ congratulates CGC Adeniyi for bringing pride and honour to our nation,” the statement read.
The organization also urged him to sustain the legacy of the WCO by championing forward-looking reforms that will further enhance the efficiency, transparency, and cooperation in global customs operations.