At Last, Lilypond Customs Becomes Nigeria’s Hub for Export Cargo Clearance

At Last, Lilypond Customs Becomes Nigeria’s Hub for Export Cargo Clearance… As Stakeholders Laud efforts of Customs, NPA

At last, after several clamour from different quarters by stakeholders and industry watchers for government to streamline activities of export procedures in the face of multiple processes, the Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has eventually become Nigeria’s Hub, as a One Stop Shop Window for export operations.

CG of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR

Contained in a recent memo, which TransQuest, one of the media organizations at the forefront of such clamour through its reports, got wind of, it was noted that based on the understanding reached by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and its Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) counterpart, the federal government has finally approved a One Stop Shop Export Processing Window which is expected to commenced with immediate effect.

Also, in effect of this policy, all existing export operational processes and documentations at various commands within the ports in the south west zone have as well been collapse.

This was said to be premised on the need to streamline the operations of export procedures, in order to achieve 24 hours Cargo Clearance on export goods and in accordance with WCO agreement on trade facilitation.

Comptroller TA Odusanya, CAC, Lilypond Export Command, NCS

This clamour by industry stakeholders, especially the exporters which have been ongoing for some time now, is said to have eventually seen the light of the day through leadership doggedness and commitment of the two leading agencies of government at the center of the whole exercise, the NCS and NPA, whose headship were determined to FastTrack the process to come on stream for the overall benefits of the industry and the nation’s economy.

By implication, the Lilypond Export Command, a designated export Terminal of the service is now being further strengthened as the only destination for documentation of export cargoes before boarding vessels in the ports in Lagos.

To this, Lilypond Terminal has now become a hub to streamline all export procedures, where export goods can henceforth be professionally handled with global best practices, and with the presence of all relevant agencies and officials, without necessarily being subjected to another round of processes at the various ports’ export desks.

By further positive implications, this move is expected to curtail some of the challenges of deliberate or undeliberate delays occasioned in some Customs export desks at various ports, where already cleared and certified goods are often subjected to another round of checks before exiting for export in most cases for obvious reasons, and this come with its attendant delays.

While lauding this feat, stakeholders however noted that the real notion behind the establishment of the Lilypond Command by Customs Authority under the incumbent Comptroller General Adewale Adeniyi MFR, which is purposely to grow the non-oil product export policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria is now a reality, as the policy is geared towards diversifying and stimulating the economy to create employment and earn foreign exchange.

According to the memo, after undergoing the standard documentation processes with the relevant certifications at the Lilypond Export Terminal, such exported goods are expected to exit for export through their various designated ports, devoid of further checks.

While applauding the efforts of Customs and NPA for this laudable initiative, most stakeholders who spoke with the publication said that this policy will further drive the boost for our local export and will ultimately improve and attract the much agitated foreign exchange (forex) income to the nation’s economy.