The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, has made history at the global stage after delivering the keynote address at the 46th Session of the World Customs Organization, WCO Enforcement Committee in Brussels, Belgium.
The high-level session, held at the WCO headquarters on March 23, 2026, marked the first time in over four decades that the Committee’s opening ceremony was jointly addressed by both the WCO Secretary-General, Ian Saunders, and the Council Chairperson.
The development underscores the growing strategic importance of the Enforcement Committee and highlights the increasing influence of Nigeria within global customs administration.
In his keynote address, Adeniyi commended customs administrations worldwide for their efforts in combating transnational organised crime, stressing the need for intelligence-driven and collaborative enforcement strategies.
“Customs enforcement today is no longer about isolated seizures; it is about protecting the integrity of global trade,” he said.
The session also reflected a significant shift in the Committee’s focus, evolving from a largely enforcement-driven platform to a broader policy-oriented body addressing emerging issues such as detection technologies, intelligence sharing, supply chain integrity, and trade-based money laundering.
As part of its contributions, the NCS is expected to present operational insights on fragile border management, drawing from Nigeria’s experience in managing complex border environments.
On the sidelines of the event, participants witnessed a demonstration of drone technology by the Netherlands Customs, highlighting the increasing role of unmanned systems in modern border surveillance.
Adeniyi concluded with a call for deeper global cooperation among customs administrations, noting that stronger collaboration would enhance enforcement effectiveness, safeguard trade, and bolster the resilience of the global economy.
The event further cements Nigeria’s role in shaping international customs policy and strengthening cross-border security frameworks.
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