Export Processing At Lilypond Command Now Seamless –Odusanya

In a heartwarming development, the processing of exports at the dedicated export Lilypond Export Command  Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has improved significantly, reducing processing time to a few hours.

This is the position of the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Lilypond Export Command, Ajibola Odusanya while interacting with members of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) at the International Press Centre, Marine Road, Apapa.

In 2022, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) reached an agreement to make the Lilypond Export Command an export processing command as part of the country’s deliberate plans to improve the exportation of non-oil products.

The Lilypond Export Command’s Controller explained that due to the presence of all the relevant agencies at the Command, the processing of export goods has become very fast and seamless, leading to the processing of about $2 billion worth of exports from the port between July and December 2024.

He said: “Since the Memorandum of Understanding MoU between Customs and NPA to streamline export to Lilypond Export Command in July 2024 and the command became the only command processing sea-bound export, we have processed about $2 billion in that period between July and December, 2024.

“In February, 2025, we processed $225 million. This achievement is made possible by collaboration with other government agencies and port stakeholders.

“We now have the Department of State Security (DSS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the quarantine service dedicated to export at Lilypond Export Command.

Now, with synergy with these sister agencies, export goods treated at Lilypond Export Command are not stopped by any other agency on their way to Apapa or Tincan ports. Such exports will only be checked by Lilypond Export Command Customs officers at the port gate and not necessarily to open the container, except there is a security alert.”

He noted that the NPA and the terminal operators would not allow the ugly port access road situation in Apapa in the past to return.