Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil export sector through the full deployment of the Unified Customs Management System, UCMS, a move expected to enhance efficiency, transparency, and value addition in export processing.
Comptroller Samuel Aribiyi, the Customs Area Controller in charge of Lilypond Export Command, made this known during a strategic engagement with Export Processing Terminal Operators, EPTs, in Lagos.
Aribiyi said the initiative aligns with the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi’s, directive to ensure increased export volume, value, and seamless clearance processes.
According to him, the engagement was necessary to equip exporters and terminal operators with the right knowledge to navigate the new digital environment.
“Export stakeholders must be adequately informed on current trends, challenges, and the way forward in export operations,” he stated.
He explained that the UCMS, alongside its B’Odogwu module and the new One-Stop Shop feature, represents a major step toward automating and simplifying Nigeria’s export procedures.
“We are moving towards a system-driven export process that will not only save time but also eliminate human interface and bottlenecks,” Aribiyi said.
The Customs boss reaffirmed his commitment to transforming Lilypond Export Command into a model of trade facilitation excellence. “Our goal is to make Lilypond the benchmark for export efficiency, where every stakeholder benefits from predictable and transparent systems,” he said.
During the session, Assistant Superintendent of Customs and Command’s Public Relations Officer, Olusola Oke, highlighted that the engagement was part of the Service’s ongoing sensitisation drive.
He added that the Customs leadership under Adeniyi is focused on “export diversification and positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in global trade.”
The event also featured a detailed demonstration of the UCMS platform, which integrates export documentation, inspection, and clearance processes under one digital interface.
Export Processing Terminal representatives commended Comptroller Aribiyi’s proactive leadership and the Customs Service’s continued engagement.
“This kind of collaboration helps us understand the system better and ensures we remain compliant while improving service delivery,” one of the participants remarked.
