The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lilypond Export Command, has recorded a strong boost in export activity, processing goods valued at $925.84 million in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 38.68% increase from $667.59 million in the same period of 2025.
Speaking to journalists on April 23, 2026, the Customs Area Controller, Samuel Ariyibi, said the performance reflects ongoing reforms and strategic stakeholder engagement aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s export sector. “Export remains critical to Nigeria’s economy. It promotes foreign exchange earnings, drives economic diversification, and contributes significantly to GDP growth,” he stated, adding that non-oil exports such as agricultural produce, manufactured goods, and solid minerals play a key role in mitigating external shocks and stabilising the naira.
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Providing further insight, Ariyibi disclosed that March 2026 recorded a remarkable surge, with export value rising by 135.83% to $425.48 million, up from $171.76 million in March 2025. He also revealed that container throughput nearly doubled within the period, with 19,014 export containers processed in Q1 2026—a 95.58% increase compared to 9,722 containers handled in the corresponding period of 2025.
A breakdown of export categories showed agricultural exports grew by $85.20 million, rising from $523.26 million in 2025 to $608.46 million in 2026, while manufactured goods recorded the most significant increase, jumping from $93.48 million to $297.36 million. “This underscores the emergence of manufactured goods as a key driver of economic diversification,” he noted.
The Command also recorded a 21.81% increase in export surcharge collections to ₦199.36 million, up from ₦163.66 million in Q1 2025, while collections under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) rose by 20.15% to ₦6.03 billion.
Ariyibi urged exporters to remain compliant, warning against infractions that could undermine trade integrity. “The Command remains committed to continuous stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and providing the necessary support to facilitate legitimate export trade, as part of efforts to strengthen the national economy through a favourable balance of trade,” he concluded.
