Lagos: The Nigeria Customs Service‘s Lilypond Export Command has kicked off 2025 with remarkable momentum, recording an export value of $1.586 billion in the first half of the year—a striking 36% leap compared to the same period in 2024, according to Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya.
Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya, Customs Area Controller of the command, made this known at a news conference on Thursday, July 31, in Lagos.
Odusanya said that the figure increased by $420.9 million over the $1.165 million recorded in the same period of 2024, representing a 36 per cent growth rate.
He said during the review period, the command processed 27,721 export containers, a rise from the 9,438 containers handled during the same period in 2024.
The area commander said this was a difference of 18,283 containers, which translated to a 200 per cent growth in container throughput.
He said exports were categorised into four primary segments: agricultural products, manufactured goods, solid minerals, and others.
Odusanya said, as expected, agricultural produce remained the leading export, with a total value of $966.73 million in the first half of the year.
He explained that the figure reflected an increase of $677.91 million in value from $288.83 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.
Odunsaya said that for manufactured goods, the command processed exports worth 2.083 trillion in the first half of the year and represented an increase of N1.913 billion compared to the N170 million recorded in the first half of 2024.
According to him, the jump points to Nigeria’s increasing industrial output and export diversification efforts.
Odusanya said under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme, which mandates statutory fees on all legitimate goods exported from Nigeria, the command processed N12 billion in the first half of 2025.
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the half-year press briefing of the Lilypond Export Command, covering activities from January to June 2025.
“This report highlights our key operations as a command solely dedicated to the processing of containerised exports, following the consolidation directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
These reports show an extraordinary increase of N9.383 billion compared to the N2.617 billion recorded in the first half of 2024.
“This rise underscores improved compliance and the growing volume of export transactions,” he said.
Odusanya said the command maintained a strong, collaborative relationship with its partner government agencies, including the NDLEA, SON, NAQS, Police, NAFDAC, and others.
He said stakeholder feedback continued to affirm the efforts of the command, while it remains a preferred hub for non-oil exports and contributes to national economic growth.
Odusanya commended the Comptroller-General of Customs for his support and for providing an enabling environment that promotes trade facilitation, especially in the non-oil export sector.
The area commander said, “As they deepen the use of the B’Odogwu platform, they remained confident that the command would record even greater successes in the months ahead.”
He advised all stakeholders, exporters, freight forwarders, and haulage operators to remain compliant and avoid activities contrary to extant laws, noting, “Ignorance will not be accepted as an excuse.”
