Customs Boss Bashir Adeniyi Elected President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation

By Ladan Nasidi, Kano

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, has been elected President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), following a keenly supervised election held on October 25 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The election, conducted under the supervision of the National Sports Commission, drew commendation from sports administrators and athletes nationwide who described the outcome as strategic for the growth of Nigerian sports.

A statement issued on Sunday by the NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, highlighted the development as a testament to Adeniyi’s dedication to national service and leadership excellence.

“The milestone further cements his record of service and commitment to national development,” Maiwada stated, adding that the Customs boss had long contributed to the growth of Nigerian sports before venturing into wrestling administration.

“Under his leadership, the Customs Sports Unit has become one of the country’s most formidable institutions in sports development, producing champions, Olympians, and role models across various disciplines,” he added.

In his acceptance speech, Adeniyi praised the ongoing reforms within the nation’s sports sector under President Bola Tinubu, noting that the changes were fostering transparency, structure, and effective leadership.

“I am beginning to see the dividends of the reforms that President Bola Tinubu is putting into the sports sector—putting the right people in place, the right processes, and the right systems to drive the electoral process,” he said.

Expressing satisfaction with the process, Adeniyi pledged to align the federation’s vision with the broader national sports reforms, promising to prioritize structure, integrity, athlete development, and innovation in wrestling administration.

He reaffirmed his commitment to elevating Nigerian wrestling to greater international recognition through strategic partnerships, capacity building, and youth engagement.