Following the appointment of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi as the new Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, the Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) Head of Research, Forwarder Eugene Nweke has said by leveraging the position effectively, Nigeria can enhance its customs operations, promote economic growth, and increase its influence in global trade diplomacy.
According to an advisory statement issued by Fwdr Nweke, with Chairperson Adeniyi at the helm, Nigeria can shape global customs discourse, particularly on issues like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), combating illicit trade, and enhancing digital border management.
Other aspects where the CGC’s leadership of WCO can benefit Nigeria according to the SEREC Head of Research include: promotion of African interst, driving customs innovation, strengthening international partnerships.
“Nigeria can drive customs innovation that supports global supply chain resilience, promoting uniformity, modernization, and global best practices among customs administrations.
“As the first Nigerian to hold this position, Chairperson Adeniyi can advocate for developing economies, particularly within Africa and the Global South, ensuring their concerns are addressed in global customs policymaking.
“This position can foster stronger international partnerships, enabling Nigeria to learn from best practices worldwide and attract foreign investment.”
Nweke recalled that the CGC’s management policy thrusts include trade facilitation , revenue optimization, digital transformation, stakeholder engagement and in aligning these policy thrusts with broader economic implications, he urged the CGC to focus on ensuring that the manufacturing and exporting sectors are flourishing, cargo throughput is increasing, current inflationary trends in the country are addressed.
He asserted that the CGC should maintain a balanced approach that considers the nation’s trade and commercial environment, avoiding getting carried away with media hype and focusing on delivering real value to the nation.
He said doing so, the Customs Service can promote economic growth and stability.
Specifically, Fwdr Eugene Nweke advised that the CGC could consider supporting trade facilitation, fostering a favourable business environment, monitoring and addressing inflationary trends.
He added that to excel in his additional international duties, Chairperson Adeniyi should provide strategic leadership by effectively steering the WCO Policy Commission, focusing on trade facilitation, revenue optimization, security, cross-border cooperation, and digital transformation, mediate diverse perspectives through balancing the interests of 186 member countries, ensuring coherence in WCO activities aligned with global customs trends and modernization goals
“The CGC should foster collaboration by building strong relationships with stakeholders, including customs administrations, governments, and international organizations, to drive collective progress and champion capacity building by supporting capacity-building initiatives for customs administrations, particularly in developing countries, to enhance their capabilities and compliance with global standards.
“Chairperson Adeniyi is strategically placed to advance the cause of
“Made in Nigeria” goods through strategic positioning of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council and the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council.” , Nweke said.
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