By Nkechi Eze
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional modernisation, customs harmonisation and collective economic growth across West and Central Africa.
Adeniyi made the declaration during the 32nd Conference of Directors-General of Customs for the West and Central Africa (WCA) Region held between Thursday, 7 May and Friday, 8 May 2026, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Addressing delegates at the high-level summit, the Nigeria Customs boss stressed that Nigeria’s leadership within the region is driven by unity, inclusiveness and the pursuit of shared progress among member states.
“This chairmanship is not mine. It belongs to the region that sent me,” Adeniyi declared. “Anytime I take the chair, I take it on behalf of every administration represented in this hall. That is the truth of it, and that is the spirit in which I serve.”
The Comptroller-General described the WCO West and Central Africa Region as a model of cohesion built on rotational inclusiveness, where every member nation, regardless of size or economic strength, is given an opportunity to lead.
“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, and in the passing, we remind ourselves of who we are,” he said.
He further noted that the culture of inclusiveness has strengthened unity and cooperation within the region, making it one of the most cohesive blocs within the global customs community.
Adeniyi also commended the Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation for sustaining an inclusive modernisation agenda that guarantees active regional participation in global customs reforms and policy decisions.
He equally acknowledged the contributions of members of the WCO Policy Commission representing the West and Central Africa Region for consistently advancing regional interests at international customs decision-making platforms.
The conference was officially declared open by the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Julius Maada Bio, who underscored the need for stronger regional collaboration to enhance trade facilitation, border security and economic integration across the sub-region.
With the conference themed, “A Customs Service that Protects Society Through its Vigilance and Commitment,” discussions focused heavily on customs modernisation, digital transformation and intelligence-led border management.
Participants examined strategies aimed at transitioning customs operations from traditional reactive enforcement models to proactive systems driven by intelligence gathering, technology and regional information sharing.
In his remarks, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance described customs administrations as the protective shield of modern states and unveiled the country’s customs modernisation agenda, which includes the upgrade of ASYCUDA World, deployment of a Single Window Customs and Ports Community System, as well as the introduction of Product Tracing and Fiscal Integrity solutions for excisable goods.
Over the course of the two-day conference, delegates reviewed reports from the WCO Secretariat and the Regional Working Group on the Private Sector, with deliberations centering on harmonised customs procedures, real-time intelligence sharing, transit verification and improved administrative efficiency.
Digital transformation emerged as a dominant issue during the conference as participants emphasised the need for wider implementation of Single Window platforms, operationalisation of the ECOWAS SIGMAT framework for transit verification and stronger alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Delegates agreed that while regional trade integration remains critical to economic growth, robust customs systems, effective border controls and coordinated intelligence-sharing mechanisms are equally essential in combating illicit trade and transnational crimes.
The conference also aligned closely with the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing modernisation agenda, particularly in the areas of automation, intelligence-led operations and regional cooperation.
A major highlight of the conference was the election of the Central African Republic as the new Vice Chair for the WCO West and Central Africa Region, succeeding Mali after the successful completion of its two-year tenure.
