The World Customs Organization (WCO) has extended the tenure of Wale Adeniyi as the chairman of the organization by one year. This is coming few days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu extended his tenure as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) by an additional six months.
The decision was unanimously endorsed by member countries during the 147th and 148th sessions of the WCO Council held in Brussels, Belgium, reaffirming the confidence of the global customs community in Adeniyi’s leadership.
Addressing members of the NCS management team who gave him a rousing welcome on his return to Nigeria on Monday, June 29, 2026, Adeniyi revealed that he had travelled to Brussels expecting to hand over the chairmanship but was instead entrusted with another one-year mandate.
“I sincerely appreciate your support. I went to Brussels believing I was going to hand over, but the outcome was different. The Council renewed my tenure for another one year, and I dedicate this achievement to the entire Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.
Adeniyi made history in June 2025 when he became the first Nigerian to be elected Chairman of the WCO Council, the highest decision-making body of the global customs organization.
The renewal of his international mandate comes just days after President Tinubu approved a six-month extension of his tenure as Comptroller-General of Customs, a development widely seen as a strong endorsement of his leadership, reform initiatives and outstanding performance both nationally and internationally.
In recognition of the milestone, the NCS management team presented the Comptroller-General with a symbolic souvenir to celebrate his exemplary leadership and contributions to the transformation of the Service.
Responding to the gesture, Adeniyi expressed appreciation to the management team for their unwavering support, describing the honour as a reflection of the unity, professionalism and shared commitment that exist within the Nigeria Customs Service.
The renewed confidence reposed in him by both the Federal Government and the international customs community is expected to further strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing reform agenda, deepen global partnerships, enhance trade facilitation and reinforce Nigeria’s growing influence in international customs administration.
