In a significant event on August 13, 2024, Comptroller General of Customs 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. The ceremony took place at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters.
CGC Adeniyi highlighted the importance of the sub-region as a platform for Customs Administrations to exchange experiences and develop solutions to common challenges. He also assured that the Nigeria Customs Service would offer mentorship and support to the Malian Customs Administration, assisting them in fulfilling their mandates.
Adeniyi elaborated on the WCO’s global framework, explaining that it unites over 184 Customs Administrations worldwide. The organization is led by an elected Secretary-General, with each of the six global regions having an elected Vice-Chair to assist in the administrative structure. He emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to revenue generation and trade facilitation, aligning with the mandates of other Customs Administrations in the region.
Inspector-General Amadou Konate expressed gratitude to CGC Adeniyi and his team for their warm hospitality and expressed a keen interest in building strong collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service. He acknowledged the differences in administrative structures between the Malian and Nigerian Customs Services but welcomed the opportunity to learn from Nigeria’s experience.