Lilypond Customs processes goods worth $937.4 million for export

The Lilypond Export Command (LEXC) of Nigeria Customs Service has stated that agricultural produce and manufactured goods worth $937,357,129.90 were shipped by Nigerian exporters to different parts of the world by the end of third quarter of 2024.

The Customs Area Controller of LEXC, Comptroller Ajibola Yekinni Odusanya, made this known on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at the headquarters of the command at Ijora, Lagos.

Comptroller Odusanya, who attributed the success to the consolidation of all export seats at customs commands around Lagos seaports into LEXC, said the remarkable increase was 407.05% from $184,880,029.35 collected in the second quarter to $937,357,129.90 collected at the end of 3rd quarter.

Odusanya informed that, in September alone, the command processed 3,363 export containers with a total weight of 221,961.53 metric tons and the total value of $202,267,327.46.

According to him, the highest contribution came from agriculture commodities including sesame seeds and hibiscus flowers, which accounted for $93,743,558.23 and followed by manufactured goods at $65,057,389.35.

The Controller noted that the command generated a sum of N1,493,326,492.83 as Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) from all export activities in September.

He added that the command also collected N88,337,176.00 in duties on exports of previously imported goods, in line with the provisions of the 2022 Fiscal Policy of the government.

The Controller said the tonnage of exported goods surged by 368.02% , from 86,783.93 metric tons to 405,979.72 metric tons as NESS growth by 733.22%, climbing from N640,198,812.18 to N5,333,343,692.86. He added that the duty paid on exports of previously imported goods increased by 359.12%, from N29,626,178.00 to N136,042,360.00.

The increases, according to Odusanya, reflected the significant scaling up of export processing capacity, improved tracking and proper documentation and enforcement of customs regulations post-consolidation.

“The consolidation of export seats at all Lagos ports into Lilypond Export Command has clearly yielded significant gains, reflected in the impressive increases across key export metrics. The primary benefit was the elimination of bureaucratic bottlenecks that previously hindered smooth export processes. The centralization of export operations has allowed for faster processing times for export documentation, improved compliance with the NCS guidelines and regulations, and a more transparent and traceable export value chain,” said Comptroller Odusanya.

He appreciated Nigerian Ports Authority, NDLEA and other government agencies for their collaboration in ensuring and efficient and effective export clearing procedures. “Their role in aligning with the trade facilitation initiatives of the Nigeria Customs Service has been vital in achieving these results.”