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Customs facilitates export worth $518m in Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said, it has facilitated export of 12,438 containers worth $518,690,852.93 between January and September this year.

This was disclosed the Area Controller of Lilypond Export Command, Ajibola Odusanya

Odusanya described the Command as a one-stop shop for export business, stating that “the current government policy in Nigeria requires zero duty payment for export.”

“Exporters don’t pay export duties, except on special occasions, where goods that were otherwise imported and are being re-exported, they pay 2.5 percent levy on the current value of the goods with the government’s permission,” he said.

 Odusanya said further that, “From January to the end of September 2023, the Command has facilitated the export of 12,438 export containers; if you break them down, we have 6524 × 20-foot containers and 5914 × 40-foot containers with a FOB value of $518,690,852.93.”

“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. And solid minerals such as Aluminium, copper, magnesium, lithium and Zinc.

We have other sundry commodities like foodstuff, personal effects and others.” He explained.

Speaking on the efficiency of the command, the Maritime Union Chairman, Lilypond export terminal-Unit, Comrade Augustine Umunnakwe 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.

The Head of Processing Diamond Star Port and Terminal Limited,  Abdulsalam Babatunde stated that, as an export processing terminal, there is a strong relationship and collaboration with the shipping lines and government agencies.

 “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.

The Principal Trade Promotion Officer at Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Southwest, Emmanuel Ekle said that registration for exporters is a seamless process that is done online.