Lilypond Export Command Records 38.7% Growth, Processes $925.8m Exports in Q1 2026

By Ranmilowo Ojalumo    The Lilypond Export Command (LEXC) of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a significant increase in export activities, processing goods valued at $925.84 million in the first quarter of 2026.

The record represents a 38.68 per cent rise compared to the $667.59 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

The Controller of Customs, Lilypond Export Command, Comptroller S.O. Ariyibi, disclosed this  during a recent press briefing held at the Command in Ijora, Lagos, where he outlined the Command’s performance and ongoing reforms aimed at boosting export trade facilitation.

Ariyibi attributed the growth to strategic engagements with stakeholders and alignment with the policy direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, noting that export remains a critical driver of Nigeria’s economic development.

He stressed that non-oil exports—including agricultural produce, manufactured goods, and solid minerals—play a vital role in enhancing foreign exchange earnings, promoting economic diversification, and stabilising the naira, especially amid global economic uncertainties.

According to him, the Command has intensified efforts to improve operational efficiency through trade facilitation measures, including preparations for the deployment of the National Single Window platform. He explained that officers are currently being equipped to ensure seamless implementation of a unified export documentation system.

A breakdown of the Command’s monthly performance within the quarter showed mixed results. In January 2026, export value dipped slightly by 1.12 per cent to $267.66 million, down from $270.70 million recorded in January 2025. However, February recorded a recovery with exports rising by 12.43 per cent from $225.13 million in 2025 to $253.12 million in 2026.

The most significant growth was recorded in March 2026, when exports surged by 135.83 per cent to $425.48 million, compared to $171.76 million in March 2025, reflecting a sharp increase in export activities toward the end of the quarter.

Container throughput also witnessed a remarkable increase during the period under review. The Command processed 19,014 export containers in Q1 2026, representing a 95.58 per cent rise compared to 9,722 containers handled in the same period of 2025.

Sectoral analysis showed that agricultural exports maintained steady growth, rising from $523.26 million in Q1 2025 to $608.46 million in Q1 2026—an increase of $85.20 million. Ariyibi described this as an encouraging trend, reinforcing agriculture’s position as a major contributor to Nigeria’s non-oil export portfolio.

Manufactured goods recorded the most significant growth, with export value jumping from $93.48 million in Q1 2025 to $297.36 million in Q1 2026, representing an increase of $203.88 million. The Customs Controller noted that this development underscores the growing importance of industrial output in Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.

In contrast, exports of solid and extractive minerals declined sharply from $42.17 million in Q1 2025 to $5.23 million in Q1 2026, a drop of $36.93 million. He explained that the decline reflects a deliberate policy shift by the Federal Government towards encouraging local processing and value addition rather than the export of raw minerals.

On revenue performance, Ariyibi revealed that export surcharge collections rose by 21.81 per cent to ₦199.36 million in Q1 2026, compared to ₦163.66 million recorded in the same period last year.

Similarly, proceeds under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) increased by ₦1.01 billion, representing a 20.15 per cent growth from ₦5.01 billion in Q1 2025 to ₦6.03 billion in Q1 2026.

He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to strengthening export operations through sustained stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and adherence to government policies aimed at improving Nigeria’s trade balance.

Ariyibi urged exporters operating within the Command to comply with existing regulations, avoid infractions, and stay updated with guidelines issued by the Federal Government, noting that compliance remains essential for the growth and sustainability of the export sector.

“The Command remains committed to facilitating legitimate export trade and supporting national economic development through improved service delivery and strategic collaboration with stakeholders,” he said.