Customs Clearance in Nigeria
Import entries into Nigeria are administered by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Cargo typically sits 7–21 days (congestion common) at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — Nigeria
| Customs authority | Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | Import VAT 7.5%; duty 5–35% + 1% CISS + 7% surcharge |
| De-minimis | No practical de-minimis; duty applies from low value |
| Certification | SONCAP product certification required before shipment |
| Typical port dwell | 7–21 days (congestion common) |
| Sea gateways | Apapa (Lagos), Tin Can Island (Lagos), Onne |
| Air gateways | LOS (Lagos), ABV (Abuja), KAN (Kano) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way Nigeria expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
Pre-shipment inspection and conformity certificates are common across the region and are usually the critical path, not the vessel.
We do not publish a duty table for Nigeria because the rate that matters is the one on your heading, not the headline band. Send the commodity and specification and we will come back with the applicable rate and the certification it triggers.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in Nigeria
Our entries in Nigeria are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our Nigeria clearance partner →Freight rates into Nigeria
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- China to Nigeria (LOS) Freight — Express Air Cargo, Duty Paid
- Nigeria (Lagos) Ocean Freight Cost from China | Sea Duty-Paid (tax included)
- Shanghai to Lagos Container Shipping — 20GP Rates
- Shipping a Container from Ningbo to Lagos: Cost & Transit
Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in Nigeria?
Import entries are administered by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
How long does clearance take in Nigeria?
Cargo typically sits 7–21 days (congestion common) at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in Nigeria?
Import VAT 7.5%; duty 5–35% + 1% CISS + 7% surcharge The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in Nigeria that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in Nigeria?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.