In a significant event on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters, the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi officially handed over the Vice-Chair position of the World Customs Organization (WCO) West and Central Africa Sub-Region to Mali’s Inspector-General of Customs, Amadou Konate.
During the handover ceremony, CGC Adeniyi highlighted the importance of the sub-region as a platform for Customs Administrations to exchange experiences and develop lasting solutions to shared challenges. He also expressed Nigeria’s readiness to support Mali’s Customs Administration, emphasizing the value of mutual mentorship. “The sub-region serves as a platform for Customs Administrations to share experiences and develop lasting solutions to their common problems,” Adeniyi stated.
Reflecting on the WCO’s framework, Adeniyi explained, “The WCO is an umbrella body uniting over 184 Customs Administrations worldwide, led by an elected Secretary-General. Each of the six global regions has an elected Vice-Chair who assists the Secretary-General in the administrative structure.” He further noted the pivotal role of the West and Central African sub-region, which comprises 24 Customs Administrations.
Adeniyi reiterated the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to revenue generation, aligning with the mandates of other Customs Administrations in the sub-region, and underscored the importance of trade facilitation in enhancing the trade environment.
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Inspector-General Amadou Konate of the Malian Customs Administration expressed his gratitude to CGC Adeniyi and his team, highlighting the potential for stronger collaboration. “We welcome the opportunity to learn from Nigeria’s experience, despite the differences in our administrative structures,” Konate remarked.