LILYPOND EXPORT COMMAND LEADERSHIP TRANSITION: DEPUTY COMPT. SALAKO ASSUMES DUTY AS ACTING CAC

LILYPOND EXPORT COMMAND LEADERSHIP TRANSITION: DEPUTY COMPT. SALAKO ASSUMES DUTY AS ACTING CAC 

Bisi Akingbade 

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Lilypond Export Command, has witnessed a formal leadership transition following the retirement of the outgoing Customs Area Controller, CAC,  Comptroller Samuel Olusanya Ariyibi, who handed over the affairs of the Command to Deputy Comptroller Olusola O. Salako, who assumes duty as the Acting Customs Area Controller. The handing-over and taking-over ceremony was conducted in accordance with the established administrative procedures of the Service.

In his remarks, the outgoing CAC, Comptroller S.O. Ariyibi, expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the management of the Nigeria Customs Service, officers and men of the Command, and critical stakeholders for their support and cooperation throughout his tenure. He attributed the achievements recorded by the Command to teamwork, professionalism, discipline, dedication and effective collaboration among officers and stakeholders.

Comptroller Ariyibi, who bows out of the Service after a distinguished and meritorious career, urged officers and men of the Command to extend the same spirit of cooperation and commitment to the incoming Acting CAC. He encouraged them to sustain the operational standards and gains recorded during his tenure, while expressing confidence in the ability of the new leadership to build on the existing foundation and further advance the mandate of Lilypond Export Command.

According to the press release issued by the Assistant Superintendent of Customs Command Public Relations Officer,  Lilypond Export Command, B OLUSOLA-OKE, stated that the incoming Acting CAC, Deputy Comptroller Olusola O. Salako, commended Comptroller Ariyibi for his dedicated and meritorious service to the Nigeria Customs Service and his contributions to the growth and development of Lilypond Export Command. He pledged to provide purposeful, responsive and professional leadership while advancing the core mandates of the Service, particularly in trade facilitation, regulatory compliance, anti-smuggling operations and effective stakeholder engagement.

Deputy Comptroller Salako called for the continued cooperation, discipline and professionalism of all officers and men of the Command, emphasising the importance of collective responsibility in achieving the mandate of the Service and the strategic objectives of Lilypond Export Command. He also solicited the continued support and cooperation of stakeholders towards strengthening the Command's operational effectiveness and contribution to national economic development.

The handing-over and taking-over exercise formally marks the conclusion of Comptroller S.O. Ariyibi's tenure as Customs Area Controller, Lilypond Export Command, following his retirement from the Nigeria Customs Service, and the assumption of duty by Deputy Comptroller O.O. Salako as Acting Customs Area Controller. The officers and men of the Command appreciate Comptroller Ariyibi for his distinguished, dedicated and meritorious service to the Service and the nation, and wish him a fulfilling and successful retirement. The Command also welcomes the Acting CAC and wishes him a successful and impactful tenure.

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LILYPOND EXPORT COMMAND MAKES REMARKABLE GROWTH IN QUARTER 1 OF 2026

LILYPOND EXPORT COMMAND MAKES REMARKABLE GROWTH IN QUARTER 1 OF 2026

Bisi Akingbade 

The Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has  processed exports valued at $925,844,469.84 (Nine Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty-Nine US Dollar, Eighty-Four Cents) in Q1 2026 which  represents a growth of 38.68% over the $667,597,082.65 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Seven Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Eighty-Two USD, Sixty-Five Cents) recorded in Q1 2025.

According to the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller S.O Ariyibi in a press release disclosed that monthly performance within the quarter showed mixed trends.

His words "In January 2026, exports declined by 1.12%, amounting to $267.66 million (Two Hundred and Sixty-Seven Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Thousand USD) compared to $270.70 million (Two Hundred and Seventy Million, Seven Hundred Thousand USD) in January 2025.

"February 2026 recorded an increase of 12.43%, rising from $225.13 million (Two Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand USD) to $253.12 million (Two Hundred and Fifty-Three Million, One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars).

"March 2026 witnessed a significant increase of 135.83%, with export value rising to $425.48 million (Four Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand USD) from $171.76 million (One Hundred and Seventy-One Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand USD) in March 2025.

The Command boss said that Container throughput equally recorded remarkable growth. The Command processed 19,014 export containers in Q1 2026, representing an increase of 9,292 containers or 95.58% over the 9,722 containers handled in the corresponding period of 2025.

He highlighted that Agricultural exports increased from $523.26 million (Five Hundred and Twenty-Three Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand USD) in Q1 2025 to $608.46 million (Six Hundred and Eight Million, Four Hundred and Sixty Thousand USD) in Q1 2026, indicating a growth of $85.20 million (Eighty-Five Million, Two Hundred Thousand USD). This reflects a steady and encouraging growth trajectory.

b. Manufactured Goods:

Export value rose significantly from $93.48 million (Ninety-Three Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand USD) in Q1 2025 to $297.36 million (Two Hundred and Ninety-Seven Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Thousand USD) in Q1 2026, representing an increase of $203.88 million (Two Hundred and Three Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty Thousand USD). This underscores the sector’s emergence as a key driver of economic diversification.

c. Solid and Extractive Minerals:

Export value declined from $42.17 million (Forty-Two Million, One Hundred and Seventy Thousand USD) in Q1 2025 to $5.23 million (Five Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand USD) in Q1 2026, representing a decrease of $36.93 million (Thirty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand USD). This reflects a strategic shift towards local processing and value addition in line with government policy.

Controller Ariyibi stated that Export surcharge collections (2.5%) increased to ₦199.36 million (One Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) in Q1 2026, compared to ₦163.66 million (One Hundred and Sixty-Three Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) in Q1 2025, representing a 21.81% increase.

He added that Proceeds under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) increased during the period. NESS collections rose by N1.01 billion, or 20.15 per cent, from N5.01 billion in Q1 2025 to N6.03 billion in Q1 2026.

He urged all exporters operating within this Command to remain compliant with extant export regulations, avoid all forms of infractions, and keep abreast of guidelines issued by the Federal Government.

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NCS Defines Its Procedures In Facilitation of Export Trade

NCS  Defines Its Procedures In Facilitation of Export Trade 

    Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya, CAC, Lilypond Export Command 

By: Bisi Akingbade 

The Nigeria Customs Service has defined its role in ensuring the smooth flow of goods across borders.

Focusing on its critical role in facilitating export trade, the NCS stands at the forefront of Nigeria's efforts to boost its export economy. 

the Customs Area Controller of Lilypond Export Command, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya, defined the NCS procedures in facilitating export trade. 

He described the Command as a one-stop shop for export business, stating that "the current government policy in Nigeria requires zero duty payment for export."

"Exporters don't pay export duties, except on special occasions, where

goods that were otherwise imported and are being re-exported, they pay 2.5 percent levy on the current value of the goods with the government's permission." He added. 

Comptroller Odusanya gave a data analysis of exports the Command has facilitated within the last year. 

He said, "From January to the end of September 2023, the Command has facilitated the export of 12,438 export containers; if you break them down, we have 6524 × 20-foot containers and 5914 × 40-foot containers with a FOB value of $518,690,852.93." 

"For the goods, we have Agricultural produce such as cocoa, cashew, soya, ginger, hibiscus flower(zobo leaves), cotton, sesame seeds, etc., locally manufactured goods like cigarettes, cosmetic items, beverages, etc. And solid minerals such as Aluminium, copper, magnesium, lithium and Zinc. 

We have other sundry commodities like foodstuff, personal effects and others." He explained. 

Stakeholders within the export terminal maintained that processing their documents with Customs is an efficient one but suggested more manpower from other government agencies stationed at the export terminal to ease their clearance processes. 

Comrade Augustine Umunnakwe, the Maritime Union Chairman, Lilypond export terminal-Unit, said, "Customs Officers are efficient in terms of their work, but where we have challenges with shipping companies because of less manpower attending to us."

"Another thing is that, though government agencies are doing their work, in terms of clearance, their representatives should be stationed here to make the work more efficient." He added. 

Abdulsalam Babatunde, the Head of Processing Diamond Star Port and Terminal Limited, stated that, as an export processing terminal, there is a strong relationship and collaboration with the shipping lines and Government Agencies. 

In his words, "We facilitate the processing at the Port, we have our handshake with the major shipping lines and the terminal, we confirm the bookings to ensure that whatever leaves this terminal goes directly to the vessel, we ensure their quality and their quantity."

"We don't do it alone. We work with NPA, ETP, and Customs as well and make sure that we do not export anything that has not been duly released by customs." Babatunde explained. 

Emmanuel Ekle, the Principal Trade Promotion Officer at Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Southwest, disclosed that registration for exporters is a seamless process that is done online. 

Emmanuel also revealed that the Council supports trade promotion activities and administer export incentives as well as export expansion grant.

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