President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Dr. Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, on the occasion of his 60th birthday, commending his exemplary leadership and far-reaching reforms that have repositioned the Service.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President described the milestone as a celebration of decades of dedicated national service, marked by landmark institutional reforms since Dr. Adeniyi assumed office as Comptroller-General.
President Tinubu noted that under Dr. Adeniyi’s leadership, the NCS has been steadily transformed into a globally competitive and relevant institution, a feat underscored by his election as Chairman of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in June 2025.
The President praised the Customs boss for elevating Nigeria’s and Africa’s profile on the global stage through inclusive, pragmatic and charismatic leadership at the WCO, as well as his success in mobilising Customs administrations and key stakeholders toward the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) via the C-PACT platform.
He further highlighted the integration of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme in Nigeria, with WCO support, noting its impact on faster cargo clearance, improved revenue performance and stronger partnerships with traders. The President also acknowledged the adoption of the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate global trade.
According to the President, the ongoing internal reforms within the NCS driven by automation and digitisation, enhanced training and capacity building for officers, strategic diplomacy and adherence to global best practices have yielded significant improvements in trade facilitation and revenue generation.
President Tinubu also commended Dr. Adeniyi’s visionary leadership for fostering better community relations, consistently surpassing revenue targets, strengthening trade partnerships with countries and multilateral institutions, and improving security along Nigeria’s borders.
As Dr. Adeniyi marks his 60th birthday, the President prayed that God Almighty would grant him continued good health, strength and wisdom to sustain his service to the nation.