Adeniyi Reaffirms Commitment to Regional Customs Modernisation at WCO Conference in Sierra Leone
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service and Chairperson of the World Customs Organization Council, Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional modernisation, unity, and collective growth within the West and Central Africa Customs community.
Speaking at the 32nd Conference of Directors-General of Customs for the West and Central Africa (WCA) Region held from 7 to 8 May 2026 in Freetown, Adeniyi stressed that Nigeria’s leadership role in the region is rooted in inclusiveness and shared progress among member states.
Addressing delegates at the high-level summit, the Customs boss described the WCA region’s tradition of rotational leadership as a defining symbol of unity and cohesion among member countries.
“This chairmanship is not mine. It belongs to the region that sent me,” Adeniyi stated. “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.”
He praised Sierra Leone for its hospitality and highlighted the region’s culture of inclusiveness, where every member nation, regardless of size, is given an opportunity to host and 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.
Adeniyi also commended the Secretary-General of the WCO for sustaining an inclusive modernisation agenda that ensures active regional participation in global Customs reforms.
He further acknowledged members of the WCO Policy Commission representing the West and Central Africa Region for promoting the region’s interests in international Customs policy discussions.
The conference was officially declared open by the President of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Julius Maada Bio, who emphasised the need for stronger regional collaboration to boost trade facilitation, border security, and economic integration across West and Central Africa.
The conference, themed “A Customs Service that Protects Society Through its Vigilance and Commitment,” focused heavily on digital transformation and intelligence-led Customs operations. Discussions centred on transitioning from reactive enforcement systems to proactive and technology-driven border management strategies.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance, while setting the tone for policy deliberations, described Customs administrations as the “protective shield of the modern state” and unveiled the country’s Customs modernisation agenda.
The plans include upgrading ASYCUDA World, implementing a Single Window Customs and Ports Community System, and deploying Product Tracing and Fiscal Integrity solutions for excisable goods.
During the two-day conference, delegates reviewed reports from the WCO Secretariat and the Regional Working Group on the Private Sector, with discussions focusing on harmonising Customs procedures, strengthening real-time information sharing to combat illicit trade, and improving administrative efficiency through effective budgetary and audit systems.
Digital transformation emerged as a major theme, with delegates emphasising the importance of Single Window implementation, the ECOWAS SIGMAT framework for transit verification, and the operational implications of the African Continental Free Trade Area on Customs harmonisation, risk management, and cross-border data exchange.
Participants agreed that while regional trade integration remains essential, effective border controls and coordinated intelligence-sharing mechanisms are equally critical in combating illicit trade and transnational crimes.
The conference also recognised the need for robust Customs systems capable of facilitating legitimate trade while safeguarding regional trade corridors from abuse.
In a major outcome of the conference, the Central African Republic was elected as the new Vice Chair for the WCO West and Central Africa Region, succeeding Mali after the completion of its two-year tenure.
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