Nigeria, June 29 -- The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, has been elected as chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council.

Mr Adeniyi's appointment marks a milestone for Nigeria, as he becomes the first Nigerian to head the 73-year-old organisation with 186 member countries, presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement.

Mr Adeniyi was elected the chairperson of WCO on Saturday at the institution's headquarters in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.

"I am deeply grateful for my election as Chairperson of the Council. I want to acknowledge the exceptional work of my predecessor, whose guidance and stability provided strong leadership for the Council," Mr Adeniyi said ...