Written by Omnia Hassan

The Nigerian economy continued to record positive indicators in the foreign trade sector, as national exports generated revenues totaling $1.218 billion during the first five months of 2026. This reflects growing export activity and improved efficiency in the trade and customs system, amidst government efforts to facilitate the movement of goods and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian products in global markets.

Strong recovery after March decline

The Nigerian Customs Service revealed that export performance saw a notable recovery after revenues fell to $171.76 million in March, before rising to $274.83 million in April, and then reaching a high of $275.90 million in May, indicating that the sector is rapidly regaining momentum.

The Authority confirmed that this improvement came as a result of the continued implementation of trade facilitation programs and the development of customs clearance procedures, which contributed to accelerating the movement of exports and increasing the efficiency of logistics operations.

Jump in container traffic

Growth was not limited to revenue alone, but also extended to shipping volumes, with customs processing 21,376 export containers between January and May 2026.

The number of containers transported also rose from 2,847 in March to 6,144 in April, representing an increase of more than 1,00%, reflecting growing demand for Nigerian exports.

During a security briefing in the capital, Abuja, customs officials explained that these figures confirm the success of policies aimed at supporting exporters and facilitating the movement of trade through the ports.

Technology drives trade growth

The Customs Authority indicated that it issued more than 112,000 advance valuation reports and processed approximately 699,000 customs declarations during the same period, which contributed to accelerating the release of goods and improving border management.

The Authority also achieved customs revenue of 3.35 trillion naira, supported by the use of modern technologies, risk management systems, and intelligence operations, in addition to strengthening cooperation with various government agencies.

Promising prospects for the Nigerian economy

Observers believe that the strong export performance reflects an improved business environment in Nigeria and enhances opportunities to diversify the economy away from oil dependence.

As customs reforms succeed, they support foreign trade, opening the way for increased non-oil exports, attracting more investment, and consolidating Nigeria's position as one of the continent's leading trade hubs.