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How I emerged as WCO Council Chairperson–CGC Adeniyi

-dedicated electoral victory to customs personnel 
Funso OLOJO
The Comptroller- General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has dedicated his electoral victory as the Council Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO)in Brussels, Belgium to the men and officers of the service whom he lauded for their commitment and sacrifice to make the Customs a better place.
It would be recalled that on June 28th, 2025, the 185- member nations of the WCO unanimously elected Adeniyi to chair the prestigious council which is the highest decision- making organ of the global customs organization.
Adeniyi, the first Nigerian to rise to such global eminence in global customs community, was unanimously elected at the end of the 145/146 WCO Council meeting held in Brussels,Belgium.
However, talking for the first time on his rare electorial victory, Adeniyi revealed his journey to becoming the number one Customs officer in the world.
In what looks like a roller coaster journey, the CGC revealed how he was adopted as a sole candidate from the West and Central African region.
“And when the journey started, it started
at the level of the West and Central African region, which has only 23 members.
“And at our regional meeting, I was unanimously proposed and eventually nominated as the sole candidate for the region.
 “Then  following on the heel of that was that other regions also conveyed their decision to appoint me as the sole candidate.
“I think four sub-regions did that
before we got into process for the council meeting.
“And the council election was to hold on the last day. And words came to me that during the four-day meeting, the days before the election itself, the EU, the European sub-region had also confirmed me.
“So leaving only one region by Saturday morning.
“And by Saturday morning, the candidates from Asia Pacific, we also understood, have stepped down, leaving the road clear for me” Adewale disclosed his smooth ascension to the pinnacle of his Customs career.
He then gave the implications of his election as it affects the Nigeria Customs Service.
“So what does this tell us? This means that the global customs community is noticing what is going on in Nigeria.
“It means that it has endorsed the reforms that we have been undertaking, the modernization that we have undertaken.
“Most importantly, the use, the operational use that we have made of the various WCO tools and instruments.
“Tools like Advanced Ruling, tools like Authorized Economic Operator, tools like the Time- Release Study (TRS) to measure the time and cost of doing business.
“So it’s a validation( his election )that we are right on course in our modernization journey.
“And we are full of appreciation for the international community.
” And I must also be full of appreciation to the business community in Nigeria, to officers and men of the Nigeria Customs
who have welcomed the reforms with open hands and have ensured implementation of those reforms.
 “Are we there yet? I would say yes, we are right on course, but we are not there yet.
“It is a process and it will mean that the global best practices that apply in advanced countries, in advanced customs administrations will remain a model for us that we must aspire to all the time.
“We must make more use of integrating automation into our processes. We must allow risk management to drive our operations.
“We must make better use of intelligence.
We must deploy non-intrusive technology instruments, scanning machines, and all of that into our operations.
“And as we do that, we will
rely on the cooperation of all our stakeholders.
“One major issue that we are facing now is the challenges that we have faced in the integration and migration of our system from the former legacy system, NICICll into the B’Odogwu system.
“Like I always say, any such integration, any such migration is a fundamental shift. It represents a major leap from one system to another.
“And therefore, we have experienced a number of teething problems. And one of the things that I’m doing in Lagos will be to engage with all the relevant stakeholders to listen to their
complaints.
“I understand there are so many of them, to listen to their complaints and to see
how much we can allow innovation and technology to lead the way in ensuring smooth operations.
“So, we will be willing to listen to them, and our team will be here to take on board their suggestions, such that the initial teething problems and difficulties that we are facing will be a thing of the past.
“I dedicate this election victory to all officers and men of Nigeria Customs Service, who are all day and night behind me to ensure that we have one piece of reform that is dedicated to making customs a better place than we make it.
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Customs

Seme Customs in revenue windfall as it collects N3.5 billion in February.

Funso OLOJO,Editor 
The Seme command of the Nigeria Customs Service has continued to sustain its revenue momentious
trajectory under the leadership of its Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga.
According to revenue statistics made available to our reporter by the command, it has garnered a princely sum of N3,480,970,924.67 in revenue for the month of February 2026, with the month still ongoing.
Comptroller Adenuga made this disclosure during an interactive session at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with cross-border traders ,farmers and stakeholders organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme and GIZ International.
The event, held in Badagry on Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, was themed “Empowering Cross-Border Traders through Trade Information Desk for Agricultural Traders”.
Comptroller Adenuga noted the revenue figure represents a remarkable improvement over the N743,698,652.16 recorded in February 2025 which he attributed to the seamless trade facilitation process adopted at the Command.
 “For this February that has not yet ended, we have already generated N3,480,970,924.67 as against N743,698,652.16 revenue generated in February 2025″ Adenuga told the stakeholders.
He said the feat was a reflection of
the flow of trade which he believed was getting better as people are building greater confidence in the Seme–Krake corridor.
Comptroller Adenuga assured traders and stakeholders that the significant reduction in checkpoints along the Seme–Gbaji axis is the direct result of strong collaborative efforts with other security agencies operating within the corridor.
 He disclosed that only Agbara and Gbaji remain the officially Customs approved and sanctioned checkpoints along this Lagos-Abidjan corridor.
The Customs Chief further attributed the noticeable decline in crime rates along the Seme-Gbaji axis to the positive outcomes of monthly joint border security meetings involving all agencies at the border post.
These regular inter-agency engagements, according to him, have strengthened better cooperation, improved intelligence sharing and more effective responses to security challenges, thereby creating a safer and more enabling environment for cross-border trade.
Adenuga declared that while revenue generation and trade facilitation remain key priorities, the Command’s mandate extends firmly to combating illicit activities.
The CAC highlighted recent enforcement successes, including the interception of a Toyota Highlander vehicle conveying 22 packages of cocaine with an estimated street value exceeding N1 billion, a feat he claimed was made possible based on very  credible information shared by the CGC.
In addition, during February 2026 alone, the Command has seized 1,000 bags of 50kg parboiled rice, underscoring its unwavering commitment to suppressing smuggling and protecting Nigeria’s economic borders.
Comptroller Adenuga reiterated the vigilance and commitment of the operatives of the Command in working closely with stakeholders, traders, farmers, sister security agencies and regional partners to improve the momentum of trade and security along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.
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Customs

Apapa Customs, Navy deepen partnership for seamless cargo movement along Apapa port corridor 

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter 
The Customs Area Controller (CAC),
Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, has solicited sustained support of the Western Naval Command to ensure seamless cargo movement along the Apapa port corridor.
Comptroller Oshoba made the call on  Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, while on a courtesy visit to Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command.
The visit was meant to deepen operational collaboration in line with the three policy thrusts of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
Speaking during the visit, the CAC stated: “The CGC has three key policy thrusts.
” The first is consolidation. On assuming duty, I resolved to consolidate on the gains already achieved and improve the existing relationship between Apapa Command and the Nigerian Navy within this axis.”
On collaboration, he noted that modern border management requires agencies to work in tandem, adding: “While Customs is known for trade facilitation and revenue generation, we also perform critical security functions.
“To achieve this mandate, we must collaborate with the military, the mother of security.”
On innovation, he added: “Innovation is doing things differently to achieve better results and strengthening inter-agency cooperation is part of that approach.”
He appreciated the Navy for securing Nigeria’s waters, stating: “No vessel can come into the country without safe waters.
” We commend you for keeping the maritime environment secure.”
In his response, Rear Admiral Mustapha acknowledged the longstanding partnership between both agencies, emphasizing: “Port security is about inter-agency and coordination. Without security, there is no development.”
He commended the Service under CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for its performance, noting: “The Customs has done exceptionally well in blocking revenue leakages and surpassing national revenue targets.
“Continue what you are doing; with more revenue, there will be more infrastructure and social safety network for the country.”
The FOC assured the Command of improved and seamless cooperation in securing the maritime domain and supporting national economic growth.
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Customs

Customs automates acquisition, renewal of licenses, permits to enhance efficiency, revenue boost.

Funso OLOJO, Editor 
In order to consolidate the automation of its operations, the Nigeria Customs Service, has concluded preparations to automate the process of Licenses, Permits acquisition and renewal.
To achieve this landmark initiative, the Service has trained  its bond officers of various area commands who will drive the process.
While unveiling the automation process to stakeholders in Lagos on Monday, February 23rd, 2026, the Comptroller – General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi said the initiative was driven by the desire of the Customs management to make licenses and permits acquisition and renewal less cumbersome, promote ease of doing business and boost revenue generation.
CGC Adeniyi, who was represented by Comptroller NJ Anozie, further expanded the benefits of the automation process.
“Automation will save importers, clearing and forwarding agents the stress of acquiring or renewing their Licenses and Permits as they would be sitting in the comfort of their offices/homes to initiate and complete the process.
“Officers and  men of License and Permit Unit, the bond seat unit of various Commands will also be saved some stress, as all their responsibilities would just be ‘clicks’ on the systems in front of their desks, as opposed to carrying loads of files from one table to another and from one office to the other.
“Automation will cut the cost of doing business and minimize movement risks for our stakeholders.
“They would no longer be jumping on buses or flights to and fro Customs Headquarters-Abuja, paying hotel bills plus feeding for days, to obtain or renew their licenses and permits.
“Automation will minimize, if not eradicate fraudulent practices in the system, as every single document that is uploaded in the course of this process will be automatically rejected by default, if it is fake and accepted if it is genuine.
 “L&P can now view assessments through the B’Odogwu to be sure that any company applying for fresh or renewal of licences or permits is not having unpaid assessments hanging on it”
The Customs boss said he was poised to sanitize the system and urged the Licences and Permits unit of the Service to be passionate in driving this initiative.
He further disclosed that the automation process will save the importers and their agents time and money which they normally expended in manual process.
Adeniyi urged the stakeholders to take advantage of this new initiative, assuring them that they would adequately be guided on how to key into the system by the bond officers who have already been trained.
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