The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional modernisation and collective growth.
The Comptroller-General of Customs and Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation Council, Adewale Adeniyi, gave the assurance recently while speaking at the 32nd Conference of Directors-General of Customs for the West and Central Africa Region in Freetown.
The Service disclosed this in a statement over the weekend, signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, a Deputy Controller of Customs, obtained by The PUNCH.
Adeniyi emphasised that Nigeria’s leadership role is anchored on the spirit of unity and the shared progress of all member states.
Setting a collaborative tone for the high-level summit, Adeniyi highlighted the WCA region’s unique tradition of inclusivity.
He noted that the region’s strength lies in its “rotational inclusiveness”, in which every nation, regardless of size, takes a turn at the leadership baton.
“This chairmanship is not mine; it belongs to the region that sent me. Anytime I take the chair, I take it on behalf of every administration represented in this hall. That is the truth of it, and that is the spirit in which I serve,” Adeniyi declared.
Speaking on the enduring spirit of cooperation within the World Customs Organisation, Adeniyi commended Sierra Leone for its hospitality and praised the region’s tradition of rotational inclusiveness, stating, “Our region has a quiet but powerful tradition. Every member, big or small, takes its turn. The right to host is not negotiated. We pass the baton from one capital to the next, and in the passing, we remind ourselves of who we are. This is one of the most distinctive features of our regional family, and it is why our region carries a kind of cohesion that others quietly envy.”
Adeniyi credited the WCO Secretary-General for sustaining an inclusive modernisation agenda that ensures all regions remain actively represented in global Customs reforms.
He also acknowledged the role of members of the WCO Policy Commission representing the West and Central Africa region for advancing the region’s interests within international customs decision-making platforms.
The event was officially declared open by the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Julius Bio, who underscored the importance of stronger regional collaboration in promoting trade facilitation, border security and economic integration within West and Central Africa.
Setting the tone for policy discussions at the conference, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance described Customs administrations as the protective shield of the modern state.
Within the two days of deliberations, delegates reviewed reports from the WCO Secretariat and the regional working group on the private sector. The focus remained steadfast on creating uniform Customs procedures across borders, establishing real-time information sharing to combat illicit trade, and reviewing budgetary and audit matters to ensure administrative efficiency.
Digital transformation emerged as a central theme throughout the conference, with delegates emphasising the importance of single-window implementation, the ECOWAS SIGMAT framework for transit verification, and the operational implications of the African Continental Free Trade Area on Customs harmonisation, risk management and data exchange.
Participants agreed that while regional trade integration remains essential, effective border controls and coordinated intelligence mechanisms are equally necessary to combat illicit trade and transnational crimes.
The conference also acknowledged that free trade requires strong Customs frameworks that can promote legitimate trade while curbing the misuse of regional trade corridors. The deliberations closely reflected the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing modernisation efforts, especially in the areas of automation, intelligence-driven operations, and regional collaboration.
The event also witnessed the election of the Central African Republic as the new Vice Chair for the WCO West and Central Africa region, succeeding Mali following the successful completion of its two-year tenure.
