Port Congestion
Lagos ports are busy. They check goods on arrival. A small document error can add days of storage and demurrage.
Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, and its demand for tech equipment keeps rising. Shipping there takes planning, though. You need a Form M before the goods leave, product certificates from the right agencies, and a customs assessment before arrival. One missed step can leave your cargo stuck at the port. We act as your importer of record in Nigeria and manage the filings for you.
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Every shipment to Nigeria now starts online, before it leaves the origin country.
Form M is the import document the Central Bank of Nigeria requires for foreign exchange.
An authorized bank processes it on B'Odogwu, the customs trade platform that replaced NICIS II. Customs then issues a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR). It confirms the HS code, value and duty before the cargo lands.
Tradewise as Your Local Importer of Record
First, you share your proforma invoice and product details. Then, we open the Form M through our bank and request the PAAR in our name. Once this is set up, every future shipment follows the same path. You stay listed as the exporter on every document. We handle all formalities for import into Nigeria.
Ask about Form M setupNigeria Spotlight
Every Nigeria shipment follows this path when Tradewise is your importer of record Nigeria.
Our bank files it on B'Odogwu with your proforma invoice.
SONCAP for electronics, plus NCC approval for radio devices.
Customs confirms the HS code, value and duty.
We file the declaration, pay the duties and collect the release order.
What Nigerian Customs Checks Before Your Goods Are Released
The Nigeria Customs Service clears all imports.
Duty follows the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, and VAT of 7.5% is charged on the value plus duty and levies. A 1% CISS charge and a 0.5% ECOWAS levy are added too. Importing laptops and servers into Nigeria? Start with these four checks.
Before you ship
Tradewise prepares and checks this whole file for you before dispatch.
Africa region
Many African markets strictly follow the documentation long before cargo lands. Consular legalization requires advance cargo filings. Conformity certificates must be ready before dispatch. Tradewise makes your journey smooth because we know how important it is. Tradewise handles all the documentation and inspections. Tradewise also secures the approvals before your cargo arrives. Tradewise can help you clear your shipment smoothly and without delay, at the port.
These five issues slow down most shipments.
Lagos ports are busy. They check goods on arrival. A small document error can add days of storage and demurrage.
A wrong value or an expired Form M can block the payment to your supplier.
In 2025, a new 4% FOB levy was announced, then suspended after traders pushed back.
Nigeria bans items such as used refrigerators, used clothing and some pharmaceuticals.
Tech goods may need sign-off from SON, NCC and NESREA, the environmental regulator, before release.
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Three services remove the most common causes of delay in Nigeria.
Tradewise files every customs document correctly. Our IOR services Nigeria help your shipment avoid holds and penalties.
IORWe manage your SONCAP and NCC applications, so certificates are ready before dispatch.
Product CertificationOur team declares the value and HS code, from the start. Declaring the value and HS code from the start saves us from costly reassessments.
ValuationThese are the authorities and rules your goods must satisfy before they can be sold or used in Nigeria. Need an importer of record in Nigeria for this? Tradewise can take that role.
Most Important for Tech Imports
Phones, routers, access points and other wireless products must get NCC type approval before they can be imported or sold. The application includes test reports and technical documents for each model. Tradewise compiles and submits the full NCC file for you to speed up approval and Nigeria import customs clearance.
This government department handles imports and exports in a way. It takes taxes. Looks at the licenses that are needed.
SON runs the SONCAP program. Regulated products need a SONCAP certificate before customs clears them.
Food, drugs and medical devices need NAFDAC approval. E-waste and some electronics fall under NESREA environmental rules.
Nigeria is one of the Africian largest economies. Lagos manages imports through Tin Can Island. And more to the newer Lekki Deep Sea Port.
Its top trading partners are China, India, the Netherlands, and the United States. Complex paperwork, port delays, and changing fees can make shipping difficult. So working with the right partner makes the process simple, easy and budget friendly for both imports and exports.
Public and religious holidays can cause delays, in the shipping date. Religious holidays that are part of the tradition follow the lunar calendar. Because of this the dates of these holidays change each year.
2 days
Public holidays at the end of Ramadan.
2 days
The Sacrifice feast, about 70 days after Ramadan ends.
Late December
Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day slow down ports and banks.
Every Week
The weekend in Nigeria. Plan customs work for Monday to Friday.
Let us know what you are shipping. We will guide you the documentation and requirments through the entire process. Then we will send you a clear quote.
Emailinfo@tradewiseint.com
Phone+971 50 713 0614
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