Nigeria’s export boom gathers pace with $1.2 billion earned in just five months

For the first five months of the current year, Nigeria’s export earnings hit $1.2 billion, as container throughput surged compared to the same period last year.

• Nigeria's export earnings reached $1.2 billion in the first five months of the year, with a significant increase in container throughput.
• The Nigeria Customs Service processed 21,376 export containers, reflecting heightened export activity and sustained trade facilitation measures.
• Export profits bounced back after a decline in March, peaking at $275.90 million in May.
• Container volumes more than doubled between March and April, indicating strong export momentum.

This information was disclosed by the Nigeria Customs Service, which noted that it processed 21,376 export containers in the period under review.

This growth was attributed to heightened export activities and the implementation of sustained trade facilitation measures.

This was revealed on Thursday during a joint security briefing in Abuja by the NCS's National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada.

According to Maiwada, who was represented by Titus Omojali, Chief Superintendent of Customs, export profits significantly increased after falling to $171.76 million in March.

They then increased to $274.83 million in April before reaching a peak of $275.90 million in May.

Additionally, container throughput surged from 2,847 containers in March to 6,144 containers in April, representing an increase of more than 100 per cent, as seen in the Punch Newspaper.

“The Service recorded total exports valued at $1.218bn, with 21,376 containers processed. After declining to a low of $171.76m in March, export performance rebounded strongly, reaching $274.83m in April and peaking at $275.90m in May.”

Highlighting the growth in export logistics, the Customs spokesman said, “Container throughput also rose significantly, more than doubling from 2,847 containers in March to 6,144 in April, reflecting increased export activity and trade momentum.”

Omojali noted that growth in the service's larger trade facilitation objective coincided with the enhanced export performance.

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It was stated that between January and May 2026, the service issued 112,202 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports and processed 698,817 Single Goods Declarations, thereby facilitating expedited cargo clearance and enhancing border administration.

“The Nigeria Customs Service continues to record significant progress in its core mandates of trade facilitation, revenue generation, border security and protection of national economic interests,” he stated.

Furthermore, it was reported that the efficient processing of cargo documentation generated ₦3.35 trillion in revenue during the period under review.

The spokesperson for the service attributed the enhanced export performance and comprehensive trade growth to the deployment of intelligence-driven operations, advanced technology, risk management frameworks, and strengthened collaboration with relevant government agencies.

He said, “Through the strategic deployment of intelligence-led operations, advanced technology, risk management systems and robust inter-agency collaboration, the Service continues to suppress the movement of illicit goods, disrupt transnational criminal networks, combat money laundering and terrorism financing, protect endangered wildlife, and secure the nation’s borders against emerging threats.”