The Lilypond Export Command (LEXC) of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a significant boost in export activities, processing goods worth $925.84 million in the first quarter of 2026.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller S.O. Ariyibi, said the figure represented a 38.68 per cent increase compared to the $667.59 million recorded during the same period in 2025.
Ariyibi attributed the growth to strategic stakeholder engagements and policy direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, aimed at enhancing trade facilitation and boosting non-oil exports.
He reiterated that export remains a critical driver of Nigeria’s economy, contributing to foreign exchange earnings, economic diversification, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. He noted that non-oil exports such as agricultural produce, manufactured goods, and solid minerals play a vital role in stabilising the naira and creating employment.
Providing a breakdown of the Command’s monthly performance, Ariyibi disclosed that January 2026 witnessed a slight decline of 1.12 per cent to $267.66 million from $270.70 million in January 2025. However, February recorded a 12.43 per cent increase, rising to $253.12 million from $225.13 million, while March saw a remarkable surge of 135.83 per cent, with export value jumping to $425.48 million from $171.76 million in March 2025.
The Command also recorded a major increase in container throughput, processing 19,014 export containers in Q1 2026—an increase of 95.58 per cent compared to 9,722 containers handled in the corresponding period of 2025.
Sectoral analysis showed that agricultural exports rose from $523.26 million in Q1 2025 to $608.46 million in Q1 2026, reflecting steady growth. Manufactured goods witnessed a sharp increase from $93.48 million to $297.36 million, underscoring the sector’s growing role in economic diversification.
However, exports of solid and extractive minerals declined significantly from $42.17 million in Q1 2025 to $5.23 million in Q1 2026. Ariyibi explained that the drop reflects a strategic shift toward local processing and value addition in line with government policy.
On revenue, export surcharge collections rose by 21.81 per cent to ₦199.36 million in Q1 2026, up from ₦163.66 million in Q1 2025. Similarly, proceeds under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) increased by ₦1.01 billion, reaching ₦6.03 billion compared to ₦5.01 billion recorded in the same period last year.
Ariyibi urged exporters to remain compliant with export regulations and stay updated with government guidelines, warning against infractions that could hinder trade facilitation.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and support for legitimate export activities to strengthen Nigeria’s economy and achieve a favourable balance of trade.
