‘You’re Mr. Customs in all senses of it,’ Gov. Adeleke hails Adeniyi on WCO appointment

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke has described the election of he Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi the chair of the World Customs Organisation, WCO as well deserved.

Governor Adeleke said this in a congratulatory message to Adewale contained in a statement issued by Mallam Olawale Rasheed his spokesperson on Sunday.

In the statement issued at Osogbo, Adeleke described Adeniyi as “a top flight professional” who has made Nigeria proud and placed Osun on a global map, calling his election as the chair of WCO as “well deserved”.

“ For years, you devoted your life to the custom family with deep experience across the operational departments. You are Mr Custom in all senses of it. Your experience locally and internationally put you in good stead to pilot the Customs service, not only in Nigeria but globally.

“ I am therefore elated that you have emerged as the chair of the World Custom Council. I have no doubt that you will deploy your decades of expertise to innovate further on best practices in customs practices and traditions.

“ The Osun state government under my leadership associate with you as a great son of the state who is contributing phenomenally to national and global development. We wish you a rewarding tenure as the chair of WCO”, the Governor was quoted as saying.

The World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, the governing body of the organization, comprising the Heads of 186 Customs administrations, endorsed Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, as its Chairperson from 1 July 2025 at its meeting in Brussels.

In addition, new regional Vice-Chairs were appointed for the WCO Europe Region (United Kingdom) and for the East and Southern Africa Region (South Africa).