LILYPOND EXPORT COMMAND MADE REMARKABLE GROWTH In Quarter 1 of 2026
Bisi Akingbade
The Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has processed exports valued at $925,844,469.84 (Nine Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty-Nine US Dollar, Eighty-Four Cents) in Q1 2026 which represents a growth of 38.68% over the $667,597,082.65 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Seven Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Eighty-Two USD, Sixty-Five Cents) recorded in Q1 2025.
According to the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller S.O Ariyibi in a press release disclosed that monthly performance within the quarter showed mixed trends.
His words "In January 2026, exports declined by 1.12%, amounting to $267.66 million (Two Hundred and Sixty-Seven Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Thousand USD) compared to $270.70 million (Two Hundred and Seventy Million, Seven Hundred Thousand USD) in January 2025.
"February 2026 recorded an increase of 12.43%, rising from $225.13 million (Two Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand USD) to $253.12 million (Two Hundred and Fifty-Three Million, One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars).
"March 2026 witnessed a significant increase of 135.83%, with export value rising to $425.48 million (Four Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand USD) from $171.76 million (One Hundred and Seventy-One Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand USD) in March 2025.
The Command boss said that Container throughput equally recorded remarkable growth. The Command processed 19,014 export containers in Q1 2026, representing an increase of 9,292 containers or 95.58% over the 9,722 containers handled in the corresponding period of 2025.
He highlighted that Agricultural exports increased from $523.26 million (Five Hundred and Twenty-Three Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand USD) in Q1 2025 to $608.46 million (Six Hundred and Eight Million, Four Hundred and Sixty Thousand USD) in Q1 2026, indicating a growth of $85.20 million (Eighty-Five Million, Two Hundred Thousand USD). This reflects a steady and encouraging growth trajectory.
b. Manufactured Goods:
Export value rose significantly from $93.48 million (Ninety-Three Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand USD) in Q1 2025 to $297.36 million (Two Hundred and Ninety-Seven Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Thousand USD) in Q1 2026, representing an increase of $203.88 million (Two Hundred and Three Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty Thousand USD). This underscores the sector’s emergence as a key driver of economic diversification.
c. Solid and Extractive Minerals:
Export value declined from $42.17 million (Forty-Two Million, One Hundred and Seventy Thousand USD) in Q1 2025 to $5.23 million (Five Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand USD) in Q1 2026, representing a decrease of $36.93 million (Thirty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand USD). This reflects a strategic shift towards local processing and value addition in line with government policy.
Controller Ariyibi stated that Export surcharge collections (2.5%) increased to ₦199.36 million (One Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) in Q1 2026, compared to ₦163.66 million (One Hundred and Sixty-Three Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) in Q1 2025, representing a 21.81% increase.
He added that Proceeds under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) increased during the period. NESS collections rose by N1.01 billion, or 20.15 per cent, from N5.01 billion in Q1 2025 to N6.03 billion in Q1 2026.
He urged all exporters operating within this Command to remain compliant with extant export regulations, avoid all forms of infractions, and keep abreast of guidelines issued by the Federal Government.
