By Harriet Tornguvan
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service and Chairperson of the World Customs Organization Council, Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional modernisation, cooperation and collective growth among Customs administrations in West and Central Africa.
Adeniyi made the declaration during the 32nd Conference of Directors General of Customs for the West and Central Africa Region held in Freetown.
Speaking at the high level summit, the Customs boss stressed that Nigeria’s leadership role within the region was rooted in unity, inclusiveness and shared progress among member states.
According to him, the West and Central Africa region has maintained a unique tradition of “rotational inclusiveness,” where every country, irrespective of size, is given an opportunity to lead.
“This chairmanship is not mine. It belongs to the region that sent me,” Adeniyi stated. “Anytime I take the chair, I take it on behalf of every administration represented in this hall.”
He praised the region’s longstanding culture of unity and commended Sierra Leone for hosting the conference, noting that the seamless transfer of hosting rights among member nations had strengthened regional cohesion.
“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,” he said.
The Comptroller-General also acknowledged the efforts of the WCO Secretary-General and members of the WCO Policy Commission representing the region for sustaining an inclusive modernisation agenda and ensuring the interests of West and Central Africa remain visible in global Customs reforms.
The conference was officially declared open by Sierra Leone’s President and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Julius Maada Bio, who called for stronger regional collaboration to boost trade facilitation, border security and economic integration.
With the theme, “A Customs Service that Protects Society Through its Vigilance and Commitment,” the conference focused on digital transformation and intelligence-led Customs operations aimed at combating illicit trade and transnational crimes.
Delegates discussed the implementation of modern Customs systems, including the Single Window platform, the ECOWAS SIGMAT framework for transit verification, and the implications of the African Continental Free Trade Area on Customs harmonisation and data exchange.
Participants also reviewed reports from the WCO Secretariat and the Regional Working Group on the Private Sector, with discussions centred on harmonising Customs procedures across borders, enhancing real-time information sharing, and strengthening administrative efficiency.
The conference noted that while regional trade integration remains critical to economic growth, effective border controls and coordinated intelligence systems are essential to safeguard trade corridors from abuse.
The discussions, according to participants, aligned with the ongoing modernisation drive of the Nigeria Customs Service, particularly in the areas of automation, intelligence-led operations and regional cooperation.
The conference also witnessed the election of the Central African Republic as the new Vice Chair for the WCO West and Central Africa Region, succeeding Mali after the completion of its two-year tenure.
