…highlights Q3, 2024 performances
Prospective exporters of various commodities but with low capacity to export on a large scale have been advised to take advantage of the grouping system still existing in the nation’s export promotion policies to export their commodities towards enabling them earn income in foreign currencies.
The Customs Area Controller of Lilypond command, Ajibola Odusanya said this while playing host to the
Management of Great Achievers Magazine, an International Newsmagazine, led by its publisher, Yomi Ogunsanu at the Command headquarters in Lagos on Thursday.
Odusanya said the policy allows those that may not have the capacity to do big exports individually, to combine and export collectively.
While reeling out the successes recorded by the Command at the third quarter of 2024, Odusanya said the Command has successfully generated a total sum of US$937, 357, 129: 90 being Duty Payment Value realized on cargo shipment between June and September of this year 2024.
He disclosed further that the tonnage of exported goods surged by 368. 02 percent from 86,783.93 metric tons to 405, 979, 72 metric tons, thus reflecting a significant scaling up of export processing capacity at LEXC.
His words, “Within April and June 2024, the command processed 2, 488 containers with duty paid value of about US$184 million. Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) revenue collection recorded an extraordinary growth of 733. 22%, climbing from N640,198,812.18 to N5,333,343,692.86.
“This growth highlights the consolidation’s positive impact on revenue generation through improved tracking and proper documentation of export activities.
“The duty paid on exports of previously imported goods increased by 359.12%, from N29,626,178.00 to N136,042,360.00”.
“Lilypond Export Command has yielded significant gains, reflecting in the impressive increases across the 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 NCS guidelines and regulations, Higher revenue collection, and a more transparent and traceable export value chain”
“Our command only deals with exports; exports that are sea-bound. Any export that is meant to be loaded in the container before leaving the country must be processed in our command, we are not revenue generation, but trade facilitation”.
“There is a synergy in whatever we do in our office here and there. Our Officers can go as far as Ondo, Oyo, and people who even want to do export from Ogun State call us, and our officers will go there and do the necessary examinations”
“In recent times, we have seen a lot of improvements. Hardly will you see containers staying more than 24 hours before they call them to come to the port”
He listed some items that can be exported in the area of agricultural produce cash crops to include, cashew nuts, cassia seeds, sesame seeds, gum arabic, hibiscus flower, cotton, tigernut, ginger, rubber, soyabean, and charcoal.
On the exportation of manufactured goods, Odusanya said the command exports solid minerals like foods and beverages, food items, Empty bottles, Lithium ore, Aluminium ore, Iron Ore, manganese, zinc, and lots more.
“For those that may not have the capacity to do big exports individually, there is what we call groupage, where about many people can combine to export a small container. Maybe if your goods are not more than 1 palette. That opportunity is available, but people may not know. And you don’t need to be thinking that you must have money to fill up a container”.
Attributing the high revenue realized in the 3rd Quarter of year 2024 to an enhanced efficiency, following the consolidation of export seats at the Lilypond Export Command (LEXC),
Odusanya, while appreciating other government regulatory agencies for their collaboration in ensuring an efficient and effective export clearing procedure, said their roles in aligning with the trade facilitation initiatives of the Nigeria Customs Service has been vital in achieving these results.
“You know, Customs is a government agency and we don’t work alone. We work with other relevant government agencies that have to do with export goods. In our command, we have people working with us. We have the DSS, NDLEA, QUARANTINE, The Police, and NAFDAC; all work with us”.
He assured that the LEXC is better equipped, motivated, and determined to foster a safe and profitable environment for all categories of exporters, saying that “we are committed to continuously improving the export value chain, and assure the public that these reforms will further enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global export market”.
Earlier while stating the purpose for the visit, the Publisher of Great Achievers Magazine, Yomi Ogunsanu said the successes recorded by the Command has endeared it to show that trully Nigeria is well position to move from mono economic to other sector like agriculture, mining and others.
He said Nigeria dependence on Oil as major export may continue to contribute to the free fall of the Naira, but with the creation of the command, there is hope for Naira to appreciate rapidly as all bottlenecks associated with exporting of goods through the sea has been reduced to the barest level.
He appealed to the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate the roads leading to Lilypond Export Command in Ijora-Lagos, noting that the bad state of the roads can affect ease of doing business in the command if not attended to.
Ogunsanu commended the Area Controller of Lilypond Command , Odusanya and his team for the ongoing good works at the command, He also called for removal of administrative bottlenecks that can hinder export processing.
He also advised the command to intensify efforts in sensitizing Nigerians on the importance and desirability of export business.
