The Nigerian Customs Service, Lilypond Export Command, said the command recorded a total export value of $752m in the third quarter of 2026, representing an increase of $166m when compared with $586m recorded in the same period in 2025.
The Acting Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Olusola Salako, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the command on Wednesday.
“In the third quarter of 2026, Lilypond Export Command recorded a total export value of $752m, representing an increase of $166m when compared with $586m recorded in the corresponding period of 2025. This translates to an increase of 22.14 per cent in the 2026 export value compared with the corresponding period in 2025,” Salako said.
Giving details of the performance, Salako, who assumed office as the command’s boss on 24 August, 2026, explained that a review of the monthly figures showed growth across all three months of the quarter, adding that in July, the export value increased from $202m in 2025 to $217m in 2026, representing a growth of 6.86 per cent.
He highlighted that in August, the command’s export value rose from $176 to $297m, representing an increase of 40.71 per cent.
Salako mentioned that the September export value also increased from $206.9m to $237m, representing a growth of 12.84 per cent.
He, however, emphasised that agricultural exports declined from $346m in the third quarter of 2025 to $310m in Q3 of 2026, stressing that despite this decline, the sector remains a significant contributor to the command’s export portfolio.
Salako pointed out that the command had continued to sensitise and enlighten exporters on the need to move beyond the export of raw commodities towards processing and value-added production.
He argued that exporters had increasingly embraced this direction, resulting in more agricultural produce being processed into manufactured and value-added products for export.
“This development is contributing to the significant increase recorded in manufactured goods and, importantly, supports greater forex repatriation into the Nigerian economy,” he said.
On manufactured goods, Salako maintained that the sector recorded remarkable growth, rising from $169m in 2025 to $402m in 2026, adding that the performance underscored the growing contribution of manufactured and value-added products to Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings.
“Solid minerals export value declined significantly from $62m to $6m. The command will continue to engage relevant stakeholders in the sector to better understand operational challenges and support legitimate export activities,” Salako stressed.
He maintained that the other exports category recorded an increase from $7 to $32m, reflecting improved performance during the period under review.
