…says Tinubu’s economic reforms are working
By Steven Atokolo
The Senate has applauded President Bola Tinubu for the election of Nigeria’s Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service as chairperson of the World Customs Organization Council for the 2025-26 financial year, attributing the feat as a recognition of the economic reforms of the administration.
This was sequel to a point of order raised by the Chairman Senate Committee on Customs, Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East) to inform the Senate the good news of the historic achievement of Nigeria’s election as chairperson of the World Customs Organization Council for the 2025-26 financial year.
Senator Isah hailed the “unprecedented accomplishment by Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. It represents the culmination of extensive reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service that have gained international recognition.
“These transformative initiatives, spanning customs organization, digital integration, trade facilitation, and revenue optimization, enhance our national customs operations, as well as earn commendation from global leaders, including Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), who specifically acknowledged Nigeria’s revolutionary strides in customs administration during the recent WCO Council session”.
The significance of this appointment includes assumption of critical responsibilities, including conducting policy commission and council sessions, providing strategic guidance and advice to the Secretary General, and offering leadership and representation to the 186 member countries of the organization.
Isah said this recognition elevates our country’s diplomatic profile and positions Nigeria as a key player in shaping the future of international trade facilitation, consumption modernization, and cross-border commerce regulation. This remarkable achievement aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership trust in economic diversification, regional integration, and positions Nigeria as a leader in African economic affairs.
“The WCO’s chairpersonship provides an exceptional platform to advance the President’s agenda of enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in international trade, attracting foreign direct investment, and ensuring our capacity for leadership in multilateral institutions. It reinforces the administration’s commitment to good governance, institutional excellence, and Nigeria’s role as a driving force in continental and global economic development”.
Some “unprecedented accomplishment” by Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, which Senator Isah outlined “represents the culmination of extensive reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service that have gained international recognition”.
Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau who presided over plenary said “it is a big achievement for our country and also achievement for this administration, because it shows the respect that the world community has for our current government, that the government is doing well. That is why they decided to even look at Nigeria to pick the headship of this esteemed organization from Nigeria.
“It clearly shows that President, Tinubu is doing very well to position Nigeria in the best manner possible at the international arena. It’s a very good testimony. If the country is not respected economically and in every aspect, this honour will not be bestowed on the Comptroller General of Nigeria”, Barau said.
Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), a former Customs officer said for the Comptroller General to get that position, it means that Nigeria is highly respected in that organization, adding that the last time a Nigerian held that position was in 1985-86, when Alhaji Abubakar Musa was the director by then, not Comptroller General.
Aliero, who is a member of the Appropriation Committee and also a member of the Finance Committee said in the last five years, all the targets given by the government to customs service have been surpassed. “This means that the customs is doing very well. Not every government agency do meet its revenue target, but customs has surpassed it by more than 10-20%. We do compare notes whenever we are discussing government-owned agencies.
