Nigeria’s Pride: Maritime Journalists Hail CGC Adeniyi’s Historic WCO Appointment. By Joy Enamuna

Nigeria’s Pride: Maritime Journalists Hail CGC Adeniyi’s Historic WCO Appointment

The Network of Nigerian Maritime Journalists (NNMJ) has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, following his landmark election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO).

As the umbrella body representing maritime journalists across Nigeria, the NNMJ praised Adeniyi’s appointment as a “historic moment for Nigeria and Customs administrations globally.”
The commendation was made in a statement jointly signed by NNMJ Chairman Dele Aderibigbe and Secretary Moses Ebosele on Wednesday.

Adeniyi’s election on Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Brussels marks a significant milestone—he becomes the first Nigerian to lead the 73-year-old WCO, which comprises 186 member nations and serves as the highest decision-making authority in global Customs governance.

The NNMJ lauded Adeniyi’s visionary leadership, quoting former U.S. President John Quincy Adams:

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

The group emphasized that under Adeniyi’s stewardship, the Nigeria Customs Service has undergone transformative reforms, elevating it to become one of the country’s top revenue-generating institutions, second only to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

“On behalf of all maritime journalists in Nigeria, the NNMJ congratulates CGC Adeniyi for bringing pride and honour to our nation,” the statement read.

The organization also urged Adeniyi to uphold the WCO’s legacy while championing innovative reforms that will further strengthen global customs practices.