The transfer of the Vice-Chairmanship position of the World Customs Organisation for the West Africa and Central Region from Nigeria to Mali took place on Tuesday.
During the ceremony held at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, the head of Nigeria’s NCS, officially handed over the position to Amadou Konate, his Malian counterpart.
Adeniyi expressed his gratitude to the regional customs authorities for their collaboration during his term that began in May 2022.
He highlighted the significance of the WCO, which serves as an umbrella organization for over 184 customs administrations. He noted that the West and Central Africa region includes 24 administrations working together towards common objectives.
“We have a responsibility to implement measures that enhance trade facilitation,” Adeniyi stated.
He emphasized the current era of economic integration globally, where customs administrations play a crucial role in administering and executing these integration measures.
Adeniyi outlined the common challenges faced by all customs administrations in the region, particularly concerning border security and fragility.
He mentioned that regular meetings and activities are conducted by the WCO in the region to facilitate sharing of experiences, ideas, and solutions among members.
Additionally, Adeniyi stressed the importance of learning from best practices in various customs administrations and promoting capacity building through training programs.
Encouraging closer collaboration among the customs administrations in the region, Adeniyi urged the new Vice-Chair to address immediate challenges outlined in the handover document.
He specifically highlighted the need to secure funds and resources for regional activities and urged prioritization of upcoming conferences.
Adeniyi also appealed for support from the Malian government to ensure the success of the new Vice-Chair’s tenure.
In response, Konate assured Adeniyi of his commitment to build on the achievements and enhance customs administration in the region.
(NAN)