From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos
Boosted by its recent commissioning as an Export Processing Terminals (EPT), the Lilypond Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it processed 118,184.96 tonnes of non-oil export from January to March 2023.
Compt. Babandede Mohammed, who disclosed this in Lagos Wednesday, said the export is worth approximately N86.43 billion or free on-board value (FOB) of $204.66 million.
He listed the processed export to include agricultural produce like cocoa beans, cashew nuts, sesame seeds, hibiscus flower, soya beans and ginger; mineral resources such as lithium ore, manganese ore and zircon sand, and manufactured goods like instant noodles, cosmetics, cigarettes and beverages.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), in collaboration with the NCS, commissioned the command in November 2022 as an EPT to undertake stuffing, examination and document processing for non-oil export cargos accessing the Lagos ports by road, rail and barges.
This is to fast-track export businesses for quick turnover, ensure proper documentation and repatriation of export proceeds to the country, and decongest the ports and all access roads.
Babandede noted that though it was only recently inaugurated as an EPT, the Lilypond Export Command has drastically reduced the delay in export processing, and was making export business effective and efficient, since all agencies are domiciled in one place as a one-stop-shop.
He further disclosed that the command has reduced congestion along the port access roads and inside the port terminals, giving space for import containers; and has reduced cost of export business, contract cancellation, and eliminated cargo pilfering.
According to him, released containers can now access the port within 48 hours for loading on to awaiting vessel, just as the command, in collaboration with shipping lines, has reduced vessel turnaround time, and by extension, decreased cost of shipping.
More importantly, it has completely erased the problem of rejection and return of the nation’s agro-produce, which used to be caused by delay and lack of requisite phyto-sanitary certificates.
Meanwhile, Babandede has commended the command’s “excellent inter-agency collaboration” with sister-agencies and other government bodies, including the NPA, for initiating the concept of EPTs and providing the command with “all necessary support.”
While commending the officers and men for their contributions so far and urging them to double their efforts to achieve greater heights in the coming months, he assured the various stakeholders that the command “will continue to facilitate their legitimate trade.”
