Giant strides : Customs at Lilypond Command hits export value of $986,440,397.78

Giant strides : Customs at Lilypond Command hits export value of $986,440,397.78
…As Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya records huge increase of
$750,352,509.25 reflecting over 318% improvement in value

The Lilypond Export Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has made giant strides in export trade facilitation with its cumulative export value amounting to $986,440,397.78, in the first quarter of 2025.

Comparatively, the export value of $986,440,397.78 presented
above is far greater than the total export value of $236,087,888.53 recorded by the Command within the first quarter of 2024. The figures reflect increase of $750,352,509.25, representing over 318 percent improvement in the value of export trade.

The Area Controller of Lilypond Export Command, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya, who has been working assiduously since he came on board, presented the export records when addressing Newsmen during a press conference at the Command yesterday, Thursday April 17, 2025.

Recall that Comptroller Odusanya has made remarkable achievements in export trade facilitation since he took over Lilypond Command, working in tandem with the policy thrust of the top Customs Management to support the Federal Government in growing non-oil export sector of the nation’s economy.

Speaking further during the press briefing, Comptroller Odusanya pointed out : “On the volume of trade, the Command handled a total of 11,459 containers in the first three months of 2025, which is 5,568 containers higher than 5,891 containers handled in the first quarter of 2024.

“We classified the exports into four; Agricultural products, manufactured products, solid minerals and others.
Agricultural produce forms the highest with a total value of $596,887,111.51.

“This followed by manufactured goods, which amounted to $329,915,256.6 while solid minerals were $50,149,763.41. Others amounted to $9,488,166.26.”

He continued :  “Agricultural produce for the first quarter of last year was $542,916,147.57; manufactured goods $134,649,364.25, solid minerals $87,498,802.44 and others $18,156,786.87.”

He added : “Under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS), which is a statutory payment to the Federal Government on all legitimate goods exported from Nigeria, the Command recorded N7.1billion.

“This first quarter of 2025, the NESS is almost 0.9 percent higher than the N7billion recorded under the scheme through our Command performance in the first three months of 2024.”

On stakeholders’ engagement, Comptroller Odusanya, who is focused and result-oriented in promoting export trade, said : “The NCS and Lilypond Command in particular cannot work in isolation. We have always maintained robust engagements with our critical stakeholders, and worked strategically with sister government agencies like NDLEA, SON, NAQS, Police, NAFDAC and others.”

His assertions :  “In addition to collaborating with sister government agencies, I have strengthened our relationship with exporters through operating an open-door policy that ensures regular interaction and seamless export trade processing.

“I am pleased to announce that user experiences of the Lilypond Command under my watch have continually improved with the prospects of attracting more exporters to the Command and contribute in no small way to the federal government drive for economic diversification through Export.”

He enthused : “Some Nigerian Exporters were among those celebrated by the Service three months ago during the formal launch of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) scheme. For us, this is a testament to the growth of export in the country, especially those using Lagos ports to ship out their goods.”

On enforcement duties, the Area Controller said : “We have always ensured a system of zero tolerance for infraction, and this has been confirmed by the seizures we made and showcased last year at Apapa Port.  On this note, we enjoin all our stakeholders to always be compliant because with compliance, it’s a win-win for everyone.”

During question and answer segment : Comptroller Odusanya in response to how B’Odogwu platform can enhance export trade in Nigeria, emphasised that the pre-launch of the platform by the CGC was an excellent initiative, because with B’Odogwu, the downtime is very low and almost non-existing, when compared to NICIS II.

On the challenges facing the Command, he said a bigger office space is needed as their operations are expanding rapidly.

He concluded :  “Under the guidance and leadership of CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, handling export cargoes has been more efficient, especially with the consolidation of all exports through our Command. This has contributed immensely to the rising progress attributed to our activities following the implementation of the CGC’s directives.

“Our improvements across various spheres of the Export Trade ecosystem as it concerns Lilypond Command are evident in the figures we disclosed today”.

Observation at the Command :
Our Correspondent observed increased economic activities at Lilypond Command, even as many trucks were seen in the premises.