There are strong indications that management of the Nigeria Customs Service has revamped the once moribund Lilypond Command strictly designated for export .
Recall that the Lilypond formation was shutdown by management of the service in 2019 over the lull of revenue generation and establishment of truck park by the Nigerian Ports Authority.
Speaking at a visit by the President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders NAGAFF Chief Ezisi Tochukwu to the Area Controller,PTML Command, Comptroller Suleiman Bomai disclosed that management of the service are working round the clock to bring back the Lilypond Command for exported cargoes in boosting trade facilitation.
He urged freights agents to patronage exportation of Nigeria products overseas, adding that the service should be commended for promoting export trade.
Comptroller Bomai stated that” We are trying to encourage export trade and today we are trying to create a new command that will be designated for export and that command is Lilypond.
“Management of the service have decided to establish a brand new command solely for exports because we want to promote non oil industry.
The Controller noted that “This new command will be dedicated for export. It will take care of non oil export and we are taking this bold steps to promote export whether the consignment is coming from the hinterlands or anywhere,it will go seamlessly.
“We have taken that bold step by establishing the command and it is not easy for the service to establish a command because it is capital intensive.
According to him, the move for establishing an export command was to ensure that such commodities do not stay at the port corridor or terminal for more than 24 hours pointing out that the dedicated command will also sensitize stakeholders on how to promote export.
“We don’t want any export trade delay to last at least 24hours in any terminal because we have volume of exports even in Grimaldi’.
“If you bring export at the stacking area in Grimaldi I can tell you that in less than 24hours the vessels are ready for those goods will leave.
“I have never seen any agents complaining about the exportation of goods and you can find out. I will also encourage you to go into export as well because it is business friendly.Dont concentrate on import alone because you will realise that export is seamless.”Bomai stressed.
Earlier, President of NAGAFF , Chief Ezisi said that the visit to PTML Command NCS was to formally introduce the newly elected executive members of the association to the Area Controller.
The President said NAGAFF is not a factionalised association in the freight forwarding sector adding that the umbrella body of is a family of practitioners without rancour.
Ezisi called on the Area Controller to assist members of the association to promote trade facilitation .
He expressed satisfaction over the working relationship between customs and freight forwarders at the chapter level .
The Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, had approved the redeployment of Customs officers attached to Tin Can 2 Area Command, also known as Lilypond Terminal, Ijora, Lagos to other commands in Ogun, Lagos and Rivers State, effectively bringing the operation of the command to an end.
The action was coming four months after the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) converted the Lilypond Terminal to a truck park as part of effort aimed at addressing the perennial gridlock bedevilling Apapa port access roads in Lagos.
Ali, who gave the directive in a circular dated August 14, 2019 and signed by Acting Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Human Resource Development, A.U Sanusi.
By Roland Ekama
