Export processed at Lilypond hits over 118MM tons in Q1 – Customs

The Lilypond Export Terminal has processed non-oil export goods with a total tonnage of 118,184.96 in the first three months of the year, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lilypond Export Command, has said.

Babandede Mohammed, Customs Area Controller of the command, said the command processed export goods worth N86, 426,279,070.59 equivalent to free-on-board value (FOB) of $204,656,119.04 within the period under review.

He listed the items processed as agricultural products such as Cocoa Beans, Cashew Nuts, Sesame seeds, Hibiscus flowers, Soya beans and Ginger.

Other items exported include mineral resources such as Lithium Ore, Manganese Ore, and Zircon Sand while the manufactured goods exported include instant noodles, cosmetics, cigarettes and beverages.

Mohammed said the Nigeria Customs Service in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority approved the establishment of Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) with the mandate to undertake stuffing, examination, and document processing for non-oil export cargos accessing Lagos ports by road, rail and barges.

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According to him, the command has been able to reduce delays in export processing, and to also make the business of export effective and efficient as all agencies are now domiciled in the terminal.

“It has helped to reduce congestion along the access roads and inside the port terminals, reduced cost of export business and issue of contract cancellation. The issue of pilfering of cargo has been eliminated and enabled released containers to access the port within 48 hours for loading onto the vessel,” Mohammed explained.

He said the command in collaboration with shipping lines have reduced the turnaround time of vessel leading to a decline in the cost of shipping.

He said the Lilypond Export Command has completely erased the issue of rejection of Nigeria’s agro-produce which was caused by delay and lack of requisite phytosanitary certificates.

The Customs boss commended the NPA for coming up with the concept of Export Processing Terminals and for providing all the necessary support to enable the Command to work effectively.