…Hails Customs Area Controller of Lillypond Export Command, Odusanya
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA has lamented the multiple and strenuous documentation process for export goods in Nigeria, describing it as discouraging and antithetical to trade.
The Chairman of ANLCA, Lillypond chapter, Mr. Abiodun Olufemi Olabanji who stated this in a chat with our correspondent in Lagos on Monday also frowned at processing of export goods on arrival at Apapa or Tincan Island Port gate by customs officials even when the same goods must have been processed at the Lillypond Export Command by the men of the Service noting that it amounts to double processing and waste of time.
Pointing out that the cost of exporting goods from Nigeria to other parts of the world is very high when compared to exporting from other neighbouring countries like Ghana, Olabanji added that documentation was too much while calling on the federal government to look into it and come up with a workable solution for export business to thrive especially now that Nigeria had begun trading in AfCFTA regime.
He said, “Normally, if you are sending goods abroad, for instance, if it’s a food item, you have to go through the National Agriculture Quarantine Service, NAQS, NAFDAC and in some cases, SON.
“Again, if you are exporting your goods through the Maersk line, you will find it difficult because their documentation is too much. Other shipping companies make it easier for you than the Maersk line. If you load a container on a truck, it takes you almost three weeks before you can take it to the port because of Maersk line documentation but with other shipping companies, you load your goods on the container and your goods are taken to the port and you will see that their documentation process is not as tedious as that of Maersk line.
“So, we want the government to look into the documentation aspect of export and see if they can reduce it to the barest minimum. Other countries that do export, for instance, Diamond Star, which is one of the export terminals, I don’t know what they are doing, they are just taking money. You load your container, you bring it to Lillypond, you go to Diamond Star, they don’t do anything, you just give them money and they pull you out again.
“You buy Sesame seeds in Nigeria and Ghana, you will discover that the cost of exporting it from Ghana is cheaper than the cost of exporting the same product from Nigeria. Exportation is a contract, your client will give you one month window for the export goods to arrive and he expects that the goods get his factory for use but you find out that in most cases, before the shipment reaches the destination, the contract would have elapsed because of delays associated with documentation.
“Things were not like this before but because people want to get money, they go as far as going to NPA to negotiate and have a special terminal. Initially, when you have a container, you notify the customs and other government agencies, they will go there and inspect your goods and load your goods. You make your bookings through the port and your export journey begins. You don’t go to any terminal for them to start collecting money. Now we go to Diamond Star to pay money and we pay to APMT before shipment.
“So, we appeal to the government to look into this because it’s not encouraging export business. They should create room for export goods to move faster, they should create a fast track for export goods. An export container should not spend more days than required because if your vessel is coming in two weeks time, and you are bringing in your consignment, with this delay occasioned, by multiple documentation, one is bound to miss the ship. We need to sit down and review the entire system”, he submitted.
Highlighting more on double processing by customs administrations, Olabanji who is also the Managing Director of Femat Nigeria Limited called on the Nigeria Customs Service to address the issue of processing of export goods already processed and sealed at Lillypond Export Command by customs officials at other commands like Apapa, Tincan, KLT among others before sailing.
He said, “The issue is that when you finish your documentation at Lillypond and load your goods, on getting to Apapa or Tincan, the customs there will be telling you that we are not from Lillypond, that Lillypond has done its own, we have to do our own, that is at the gate which amounts to double processing, which is wrong.
“We have Enforcement at Lillypond, we have CIU, Gate Officer, Resident Officers, all at Lillypond command. The idea should be that once the job is sealed at Lillypond, the customs has done its work, when it gets to Apapa, or Tincan gate, it should be allowed to access the port without further delay. Not for customs or other government agencies to insist on processing or checking the goods all over.
“We had a meeting at the Rockview Hotels, Apapa last Friday and the Controller addressed the issue. And when I heard that the Controller said that the issue was being handled, I was really impressed. The man (Controller) is a man who keeps his words, once he says something, he does it. This man is dedicated to export because he knows the value of export. He knows that once the country exports, it will earn foreign exchange in return.”
The Chairman recalled that when he heard that Lillypond Customs Command had been designated as a sole export command, he used to believe that it will not be easy for one command to be designated an export command for customs processing but when he looked at the efforts of the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya, he was a very reliable Controller and a Controller with a difference.
“The man is truly dedicated to his duty. I could remember when we were having problems with Inspection Agent, and the Central Bank of Nigeria in getting our CCI, we had our meeting at Lillypond with the Controller and the man promised that he’s going to work on it and today, if you submit your documents with the Inspection Agent, under three days, you get your CCI. The man is a man who keeps his words, once he says something, he does it.”
Photo: Mr. Abiodun Olufemi Olabanji, Chairman, ANLCA, Lillypond Export Command chapter.
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