Nigeria, or the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is made up of 36 different states, along with Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Located on the west coast of Africa, Nigeria borders Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and the Republic of Benin. The largest city in the country is Lagos with a population of around 8 million, followed by Kano and Ibadan.
If you plan to ship to Nigeria, there are several different shipping ports in the country. Nigeria’s coastal waterways include the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea. Some of the shipping ports in Nigeria include Apapa Port, Harcourt Port, Onne Port, Pennington Port, and Calabar Port.
If you need an international shipment to Nigeria, there are some important documents you should have in order. You will need the following prior to international shipping to Nigeria:
- Passport (original)
- Visa
- Work permit (if applicable)
- Residence permit
- Certificate of change of residence
- Declaration of unaccompanied baggage for customs and excise duties
- Sales Form 48
- Shipping Inventory
- The PUBD form must be completed after the client arrives in Nigeria
- Letter authorizing the destination agent to dispatch the shipment
When shipping to Nigeria, your cargo will be inspected during the customs clearance process. You must plan to be present for customs clearance if you are shipping to Nigeria. Additionally, you will need to obtain a personal bank account while in Nigeria to apply for the required Form “M”.
Duty Free Shipping and Shipping to Nigeria
When shipping to Nigeria, it is helpful to note that used personal items and household items generally qualify for duty-free shipping to Nigeria.
To qualify for duty free shipping to Nigeria, your items must be used and you must have had them for at least 6 months prior to shipping. Additionally, items must be for your personal use and not for resale.
If you are a Nigerian citizen returning to the country and want to qualify for duty free shipping to Nigeria, you must have been abroad outside the country for at least nine months.
It is also important that your shipment to Nigeria arrives within two months of arrival in the country.
Taxable and restricted items when shipped to Nigeria
Please note that you have to pay various fees to ship certain items to Nigeria. You can ship alcohol and tobacco products to Nigeria without an import permit if they are included as part of your household goods shipment. These items must be in a reasonable quantity for personal use. Additionally, you are expected to pay import duties on any alcohol and tobacco products.
You can also send home appliances to Nigeria, but the quantity is limited. You can send one of each type of device to Nigeria.
Other items that are restricted or require specific import duties when shipped to Nigeria include the following:
- Fragrance
- Jewels
- All films, videotapes, video discs, compact discs, publications, audiotapes, and gramophone records.
- Computers
Prohibited items when shipping to Nigeria
If you are shipping to Nigeria, there is a long list of items that are prohibited from entering the country. You cannot send the following to Nigeria:
- Air pistols
- Photographic printing paper for airmail
- Fake money of any kind
- Beads composed of flammable celluloid or other similar substances
- Blank invoices
- Cars eight years or older
- Coupons for foreign soccer groups or other betting agreements
- Cowries
- Spent tea or tea mixed with other substances. For the purposes of this point, “spent tea” means tea that has been deprived of its proper quality, strength, or virtue by steeping, infusion, or other means.
- Implements belonging to the refilling of cartridges
- Prints deemed indecent or obscene, or other items, including paintings, books, cards, prints, or items of any kind that are deemed indecent.
- Manilas
- Matches made with white phosphorus
- Materials of any description with a design that, considering the purpose for which such material is intended to be used, is likely, in the opinion of the President, to create a breach of the peace or offend the religious views of any class of persons in Nigeria.
- Meat, vegetables or other provisions declared by a Nigerian health official unfit for human consumption
- Piece goods and all other textiles, including clothing. Hardware articles of all kinds, crockery and earthenware with inscriptions (either in Roman or Arabic characters) of the Koran or of the traditions and commentaries on the Koran
- Guns disguised in any way
- Second-hand clothes
- Silver or metal alloy coins are not legal tender in Nigeria
Car shipping and RO – RO shipping to Nigeria
If you are interested in shipping a vehicle to Nigeria, it must be for your personal use and not for resale or disposal.
You are not allowed to ship vehicles eight years old or older to Nigeria. You are also expected to pay duties when shipping a vehicle to Nigeria.
Documents required for shipping cars to Nigeria include the following:
- Proof of vehicle ownership
- Vehicle registration certificate or original vehicle registration book
- Auto insurance documents
- Passport (original)
- Invoice
- Certificate of road worthiness (if you are sending a used vehicle)
- Make, model and serial number of your vehicle
Bringing a pet to Nigeria
If you are moving abroad to Nigeria or are returning to the country after having been away for a while and are interested in bringing a pet, there are some rules that you need to know in advance.
It is not allowed to bring birds of the parrot family to Nigeria. You must have a Certificate of Good Health for your pet. You will also need vaccination documentation and an import permit to bring your pet to Nigeria.
You must wait for a quarantine period when you bring a pet to Nigeria.
A qualified shipping company can inform you of important customs rules and regulations if you are shipping to Nigeria or some other worldwide destination. Working with an experienced shipping agency will make your experience with international shipping to Nigeria that much easier.