Customs Facilitates Export of 12,438 Containers worth $518.7m in 9 months
ZAINAB JUNAID
The Customs Area Controller, Lilypond Export Command, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya has stated the Command facilitated the export of 12,438 containers with a Free on Board (FOB) value of $518,690,852.93 between January and September 2023.
Comptroller Odusanya disclosed this in Lagos while explaining the critical role of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) in the facilitation of exports, adding that Lilypond export command is a one-stop shop for export business.
He explained that the current government policy in Nigeria requires zero duty payment for export and exporters don’t pay export duties, except on special occasions, where goods that were otherwise imported are being re-exported, and in this case, 2.5 percent levy is paid on the current value of the goods with the government’s permission.
Comptroller Odusanya gave a data analysis of exports the Command has facilitated within the year.
“For the goods, we have Agricultural produce such as cocoa, cashew, soya, ginger, hibiscus flower(zobo leaves), cotton, sesame seeds, etc., locally manufactured goods like cigarettes, cosmetic items, beverages, etc. Solid minerals such as Aluminium, copper, magnesium, lithium and Zinc.
We have other sundry commodities like foodstuff, personal effects and others.” He explained.
Stakeholders within the export terminal maintained that processing their documents with Customs is an efficient one. Still, they suggested more manpower from other government agencies stationed at the export terminal to ease their clearance processes.
Comrade Augustine Umunnakwe, the Maritime Union Chairman, Lilypond export terminal-Unit, said, “Customs Officers are efficient in terms of their work, but where we have challenges with shipping companies because of less manpower attending to us.”
“Another thing is that, though government agencies are doing their work, in terms of clearance, their representatives should be stationed here to make the work more efficient.” He added.
Abdulsalam Babatunde, the Head of Processing Diamond Star Port and Terminal Limited, on his part, stated that, as an export processing terminal, there is a strong relationship and collaboration with the shipping lines and Government Agencies.
In his words, “We facilitate the processing at the Port, we have our handshake with the major shipping lines and the terminal, we confirm the bookings to ensure that whatever leaves this terminal goes directly to the vessel, we ensure their quality and their quantity.”
“We don’t do it alone. We work with NPA, ETP, and Customs as well and make sure that we do not export anything that has not been duly released by customs.” Babatunde explained.
Also speaking, Emmanuel Ekle, the Principal Trade Promotion Officer at Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Southwest, disclosed that registration for exporters is a seamless process that is done online.
Emmanuel also revealed that the Council supports trade promotion activities and administer export incentives as well as export expansion grant.
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