Lilypond Customs Export Command Records 38% Surge, Processes $925.8m in Q1 2026
Author: Femi Anamelechi.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lilypond Export Command, has recorded a significant boost in export activities, processing goods worth $925.84 million in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 38.68% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, 23 April 2026, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Samuel Ariyibi, said the impressive 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 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth”, Ariyibi stated. “Non-oil exports such as Agricultural produce, manufactured goods, and solid minerals are essential for mitigating external shocks and stabilising the Naira.”
Providing a comparative analysis, the Area Controller disclosed that export value rose from $667.59 million recorded in Q1 2025 to $925.84 million in Q1 2026. He highlighted a remarkable surge in March 2026, noting that export value rose by 135.83% to $425.48 million, up from $171.76 million recorded in March 2025.
Comptroller Ariyibi also revealed that container throughput also doubled within the period, with 19,014 export containers processed in Q1 2026, representing a 95.58% compared to 9,722 containers handled in the corresponding period of 2025.
A breakdown of export categories showed that agricultural exports grew by $85.20 million, rising from $523.26 million in 2025 to $608.46 million in 2026. Manufactured goods recorded the most significant increase, from $93.48 million to $297.36 million. “This underscores the emergence of manufactured goods as a key driver of economic diversification.”
The Command also recorded a 21.81% increase in export surcharge collections, rising to ₦199.36 million in Q1 2026 from ₦163.66 million in Q1 2025. Similarly, collections under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) rose by 20.15% to ₦6.03 billion.
The CAC 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.
