Addressing a press conference on Monday April 23rd, Comptroller S.O. Ariyibi revealed that the Lilypond Export Command 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, representing 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.

A breakdown of the monthly performance statistics within the quarter, the CAC revealed showed mixed trends.
“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.”

He further disclosed that Container throughput during the period in review equally showed remarkable growth with the Command processing a total of 19,014 export containers in Q1 2026, an increase of 9,292 containers or 95.58% over the 9,722 containers handled in the corresponding period of 2025.

Agricultural Produce exports he added, recorded a growth of $85.20 million (Eighty-Five Million, Two Hundred Thousand USD), 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. This he insisted, reflects a steady and encouraging growth trajectory.
Manufactured Goods
Export value also 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; an increase of $203.88 million (Two Hundred and Three Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty Thousand USD). A development Controller Ariyibi maintained underscores the sector’s emergence as a key driver of economic diversification.

Solid and Extractive Minerals
Export value on the other hand declined by $36.93 million (Thirty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand USD) 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 This drop he stated, reflects a strategic shift towards local processing and value addition in line with government policy.

Meanwhile, 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.
Similarly, proceeds under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) increased during the period. NESS collections inched up by N1.01 billion, or 20.15 per cent, from N5.01 billion in Q1 2025 to N6.03 billion in Q1 2026.

The Lilypond Export Command Controller further noted that in line with the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi PhD MFR DSM fnipr fniia psc(+), Command has continued to implement measures aimed at enhancing export trade facilitation within its Area of Responsibility, hence it is actively advancing the deployment of the National Single Window platform, with Officers being adequately prepared for seamless implementation of a unified export documentation system in due course.

He urged all exporters operating within the Command to remain compliant with extant export regulations, avoid all forms of infractions, and keep abreast of guidelines issued by the Federal Government.
The Command, he reiterated remains committed to continuous stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and provision of necessary support to facilitate legitimate export trade, as part of efforts to strengthen the national economy through a favourable balance of trade.