By Peace Udugba
The Controller of the Lilypond Export Command (LEXC), Comptroller S.O. Ariyibi, has announced a significant boost in export activities for the first quarter of 2026, underscoring the critical role of non-oil exports in strengthening Nigeria’s economy.
Addressing journalists at the Command in Ijora, Lagos, Ariyibi said the achievements were in line with the policy direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who has prioritised trade facilitation and stakeholder engagement.
He emphasised that exports remain vital to Nigeria’s economic growth, noting that they drive foreign exchange earnings, support diversification, and contribute meaningfully to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to him, non-oil exports—including agricultural produce, manufactured goods, and solid minerals—are key to reducing the country’s reliance on crude oil and stabilising the naira.
Ariyibi disclosed that the Command processed exports worth $925.84 million in Q1 2026, representing a 38.68 per cent increase compared to $667.60 million recorded in the same period of 2025.
A breakdown of monthly performance showed mixed trends. January 2026 recorded a slight decline of 1.12 per cent, with exports valued at $267.66 million, compared to $270.70 million in January 2025. However, February saw a 12.43 per cent increase, rising to $253.12 million from $225.13 million in the previous year. March recorded a remarkable surge of 135.83 per cent, with exports jumping to $425.48 million from $171.76 million in March 2025.
The Command also recorded substantial growth in container throughput, handling 19,014 export containers in Q1 2026—an increase of 95.58 per cent from the 9,722 containers processed during the same period in 2025.
Sectoral analysis showed that agricultural exports grew from $523.26 million in Q1 2025 to $608.46 million in Q1 2026, reflecting steady progress.
Manufactured goods experienced a sharp rise, increasing from $93.48 million to $297.36 million, highlighting the sector’s growing importance in Nigeria’s diversification efforts.
In contrast, exports of solid and extractive minerals declined significantly from $42.17 million to $5.23 million.
Ariyibi attributed this drop to a strategic shift towards 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, compared to ₦163.66 million in the corresponding period of 2025.
Similarly, collections under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) increased by 20.15 per cent, from ₦5.01 billion to ₦6.03 billion.
Ariyibi reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to enhancing export trade facilitation, including ongoing preparations for the deployment of the National Single Window platform to streamline export documentation processes.
He urged exporters to comply with existing regulations and stay updated on government guidelines, assuring that the Command would continue to engage stakeholders and provide necessary support to promote legitimate trade and improve Nigeria’s balance of trade.
