The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intensified efforts to improve the quality of Nigeria’s cocoa exports and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in international markets through closer collaboration with export processing operators.
The Acting Customs Area Controller of the Lilypond Export Command, Deputy Comptroller Olusola Salako, stated this on October 6, 2026, during a working visit to Hallink Export Processing Terminal in Lagos, where he inspected its cocoa processing facilities and quality-control systems.
Salako emphasised the importance of compliance with international export standards, noting that effective collaboration between Customs and legitimate operators across the export value chain would help promote non-oil exports and enhance Nigeria’s position in the global market.
The visit was disclosed in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, Bukola Olusola-Oke, on behalf of the Acting Controller.
During the inspection, Salako toured the terminal’s cocoa processing and export facilities, including its quality-control laboratories, storage areas and packaging operations.
The terminal’s management demonstrated its quality-assurance procedures, which include chemical and physical tests to determine cocoa beans’ moisture content, bean count and fermentation levels.
The facility also conducts tests for heavy metals and pesticide residues to ensure compliance with international safety and quality requirements.
The Customs chief inspected modern testing equipment, including Near Infrared technology used to assess moisture, fat content and free fatty acids in cocoa beans.
He commended the terminal’s management for investing in quality assurance and implementing measures to prevent contamination and infestation, describing such efforts as important to maintaining the quality and acceptability of Nigerian export products.
Salako reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to supporting legitimate businesses and facilitating seamless export procedures, stressing that sustained engagement with operators was essential to improving product standards and expanding Nigeria’s non-oil export potential.
He added that stronger partnerships between Customs and stakeholders across the export value chain would contribute to more efficient trade processes and improve the competitiveness of Nigerian products in international markets.
