Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service generated US$752.85 million in export value in the third quarter of 2026, a 22.14 per cent increase of US$166.70 million over the US$586.15 million recorded in the same period of 2025.
Acting Controller DC Olusola Oluyemi Salako disclosed the figures on Wednesday during his maiden press briefing since assuming office on 24 August 2026. He attributed the growth to expanded trade facilitation and rising shipments of manufactured and value-added products under the Federal Government’s non-oil export drive.
All three months of the quarter showed year-on-year gains. July exports rose 6.86 per cent to US$217.53 million from US$202.60 million. August recorded the strongest jump, climbing 40.71 per cent to US$297.92 million from US$176.63 million. September increased 12.84 per cent to US$237.41 million from US$206.92 million.
Sectoral performance was mixed. Manufactured goods more than doubled, surging from US$169.90 million in Q3 2025 to US$402.52 million in Q3 2026. “Other exports” also rose sharply, from US$7.87 million to US$32.86 million.
Agricultural produce, still the largest single category, declined from US$346.11 million to US$310.98 million. Salako linked the drop partly to the government’s push for value addition, noting that more raw commodities are now being processed into manufactured goods before export. Solid minerals fell steeply, from US$62.27 million to US$6.49 million; the Command said it would engage stakeholders to address the sector’s challenges.
Export container throughput increased from 10,987 in Q3 2025 to 16,345 in Q3 2026, a rise of 5,358 containers. Revenue collections improved as well: the 2.5 per cent re-export surcharge rose by ₦90.02 million, while NESS charges increased by ₦517.92 million.
Salako reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to legitimate trade facilitation, compliance enforcement and stakeholder engagement. He said the Command would continue using the Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu) and World Customs Organization tools such as the Time Release Study to remove bottlenecks and support Nigeria’s non-oil export growth.
Salako reiterated that the Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to facilitating legitimate trade, promoting economic growth and advancing national development. Under the leadership of it’s Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi .
The Acting Controller added that the Lilypond export Command remains focused on supporting the growth of Nigeria’s non-oil export sector which is one of the cardinal priorities of the Federal Government of Nigeria
“In the third quarter of 2026, Lilypond Export Command recorded a total export value of Seven Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty-Two United States Dollars and Forty-Seven Cents (US$752,852,452.47), representing an increase of One Hundred and Sixty-Six Million, Seven Hundred Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty-Nine United States Dollars and Twenty-Six Cents (US$166,700,369.26) over the Five Hundred and Eighty-Six Million, One Hundred and Fifty-Two Thousand, Eighty-Three United States Dollars and Twenty-One Cents (US$586,152,083.21) recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
“This represents an increase of Twenty-Two Point One Four Per Cent (22.14%) in the 2026 export value compared with the corresponding period in 2025. A review of the monthly figures shows growth across all three months of the quarter” he said
Giving a month by month breakdown, Salako explained that in July 2026, export value increased from Two Hundred and Two Million, Six Hundred and Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty-Nine United States Dollars and Seventy-Nine Cents (US$202,604,239.79) in 2025 to Two Hundred and Seventeen Million, Five Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirty-Three United States Dollars and Forty Cents (US$217,526,633.40) in 2026, representing a growth of Six Point Eight Six Per Cent (6.86%).
He added that in August,export value rose from One Hundred and Seventy-Six Million, Six Hundred and Twenty-Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eight United States Dollars and Sixty-Four Cents (US$176,628,708.64) to Two Hundred and Ninety-Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty-One United States Dollars and Twenty-Two Cents (US$297,919,731.22), representing an increase of Forty Point Seven One Per Cent (40.71%).
While in September, export value also increased from Two Hundred and Six Million,Nine Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty-Four United States Dollars and Seventy-Eight Cents (US$206,919,134.78) to Two Hundred and Thirty-Seven Million, Four Hundred and Six Thousand, Eighty-Seven United States Dollars and Eighty-Five Cents (US$237,406,087.85), representing a growth of Twelve Point Eight Four Per Cent (12.84%).
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