The Nigeria Customs Service’s Lilypond Export Command has announced impressive export figures for the first quarter of 2024, highlighting the nation’s agricultural sector’s resilience and global competitiveness.
According to Ajibola Odusanya, the Area Controller in Charge of the Command, 4,229 containers carrying agricultural produce valued at $153 million were exported during the January–March 2024 period. Additionally, 629 containers of manufactured goods worth $22.2 million were exported by the command in the same timeframe.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Odusanya revealed that the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) payment to the Federal Government amounted to N112 million, reflecting the sector’s strong performance and competitiveness in international markets.
During the period under review, the command processed a total of 5,891 containers valued at $236 million, comprising diverse commodities such as agricultural produce, manufactured goods, solid and extractive minerals, and others.
Notably, the NESS received a payment of N916 million, underscoring the robust contribution of agricultural exports to the national economy, Odusanya stated.
The export of solid and extractive minerals witnessed a significant upsurge, with 753 containers dispatched valued at $34 million. The NESS payment of ₦224 million highlighted the immense potential of Nigeria’s mineral resources on the international stage.
Additionally, various goods, including plants, machinery, and personal effects, were exported in 280 containers, contributing $26 million to the export revenue. A NESS payment of ₦135 million was made, emphasizing the diversified nature of Nigeria’s export portfolio.
Odusanya noted that a comparative analysis revealed a substantial growth trajectory in Q1 2024 compared to the corresponding period in 2023. The total containers processed in 2024 Q1 surged by 44 per cent to reach 5,891 containers, as against 3,784 containers processed in 2023 Q1, signifying heightened trade activity at the command. The value of export commodities also surged by 42 per cent to $236 million, as against $154 million recorded in 2023 Q1, underscoring the sustained momentum in export performance.
The NESS payment witnessed an impressive 114 per cent increase, reaching ₦1.3 billion from N378 million received in the first quarter of 2023. Surcharge payments for plants and machinery and imported goods doubled from N8.7 million in 2023 Q1 to N18.2 million in 2024 Q1, representing a 70 per cent difference, aligning with fiscal policy directives.
Odusanya expressed gratitude to stakeholders at the command for their collaborative efforts and synergy while the command was carrying out its statutory mandate. He assured that the command would continue to leverage stakeholders’ contributions and cooperation to ensure efficient service delivery to the nation.
The Nigerian Ports Authority had previously affirmed the designation of the Lilypond Container Terminal in Ijora, Lagos, as a specialised processing and handling facility for the exportation of locally made finished and agricultural goods.