Exportation of agricultural, solid minerals and manufactured products through the nation’s seaports is gathering momentum as Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Thursday, said 11,459 containers of various products were exported out of the country between January to March 2025

Speaking to LEADERSHIP during the quarterly press briefing in Lagos, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Compt. Ajibola Odusanya said the value of the exported products was worth $986.4 million.

According to Compt. Odusanya, the containers exported in 2025 were 5,568 higher than the numbers that were exported in the first quarter of 2024.

“On the volume of trade, the command handled a total of 11,459 containers in the first three months of 2025 which is 5,568 containers higher than the 5,891 containers handled in the first quarter of 2024

“We classified the exports into four Agricultural products, manufactured products, solid minerals and others.

“Agricultural produce forms the highest with a total value of $596.88 million. This was followed by manufactured goods, which amounted to $329.9 million, while solid minerals were $550.15 million. Others amounted to $9,488,166.26.

Agricultural produce for the first quarter of last year was $542.9 million manufactured goods $134.64 million solid minerals $87.49 million and others $18.15 million.

“In the first quarter of 2025, our cumulative export value amounted to $986.44 million This is more than 300 per cent higher than the $236.08 million total value of exports through this command in the first quarter of 2024.

“Comparatively, this shows an increase of $750.35 million representing over 318 per cent improvement in the value.”

Compt. Odusanya stated that the command recorded N7.13 billion under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS).

He also disclosed that the command strengthened collaboration with exporters by operating an open-door policy that ensures regular interaction and seamless export trade processing.

“Under NESS, which is a statutory payment to the federal government on all legitimate goods exported from Nigeria, the command recorded N7,131,463,779.25. The Q1 2025 NESS is almost 0.9 per cent higher than the N7,067,351,977.1 recorded under the scheme through our command performance in the first three months of 2024.

“The NCS as a service and the command in particular cannot work in isolation. We have always maintained robust engagements with our critical stakeholders and worked strategically with sister government agencies like the NDLEA, SON, NAQS, Police, NAFDAC and others.”

“In addition to collaborating with sister government agencies, I have strengthened our relationship with exporters through operating an open-door policy that ensures regular interaction and seamless export trade processing.”

“I am pleased to announce that user experiences of the LEXC under my watch have continually improved with the prospects of attracting more exporters to the Command and thereby contribute in no small way, the federal government drive for economic diversification through Export.

“Some Nigerian Exporters were among those celebrated by the service three months ago during the formal launch of the authorised economic operator (AED) scheme. For us, this is a testament to the growth of export in the country, especially those using Lagos ports to ship out their goods,” Compt. Odusanya stated.