Moving to Nigeria | Excess Luggage

How it works

Shipping personal effects to Nigeria when you move

Planning your move to Nigeria? We ship luggage, send suitcases and move boxes of belongings door-to-door (subject to your destination) from across the UK to Nigeria. Our relocation service handles collection, customs and delivery of your personal effects, so moving your things to Nigeria is simple and stress-free.

Nigeria is one of our most established routes. NAHCO and SAHCOL at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos handle the highest volume of UK–Nigeria personal effects. Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) customs clearance is thorough — documentation matters.

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We collect from your UK address. Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00. Door collection, no depot drop-off required.

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Air freight to Lagos (LOS), Abuja (ABV) or Port Harcourt (PHC). Transit 5–9 working days, subject to space and flight availability with the carriers. NAHCO or SAHCOL terminal at MMIA. Destination handling charges payable locally in Naira.

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NCS documentation is non-negotiable. An itemised packing list with declared values for every item. "Assorted personal effects" will cause a hold. Line-by-line detail is what NCS expects.

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Sender must equal receiver. Your name on the shipment, your passport at collection. Any mismatch reclassifies the shipment as a commercial import — full duties apply immediately.

⚠ NCS inspection reality

NCS inspects thoroughly. Barrels, suitcases and boxes may be opened and checked against the packing list. An accurate, itemised list protects you. A vague list creates problems — delays, storage charges, and potential duty assessment on everything.

What to ship

What to send by luggage shipping when moving to Nigeria

The combination that works: air freight for clothes, personal items and things you need on arrival — sea freight or removals for volume shipments. The diaspora barrel is also an established method for large volumes to Nigeria.

Item	Ship?	Notes
Clothes, shoes, personal items	✓ Yes	Up to 30kg per bag
Laptop / tablet (battery removed)	✓ Yes	Remove lithium battery, carry in cabin
Books, documents, kitchenware	✓ Yes	Weigh before booking — dense items add up
Furniture, appliances	✗ No	Use our sea freight service to Nigeria
Lithium batteries, aerosols, perfumes	✗ No	Prohibited in air freight — no exceptions
Barrels (handled separately)	✓ Yes	Handling surcharge applies — advise at enquiry
Alcohol	✗ No	Heavily restricted through NCS — avoid entirely

30kg standard, surcharge if heavier. No bag limit. Quote before we collect.

28 years on this route

Why the UK–Nigerian community trusts Excess Luggage Co.

Nigeria is one of the routes where experience makes the biggest difference. NCS documentation requirements, NAHCO vs SAHCOL terminal selection, destination handling charges — these are details that trip up first-time shippers. We have been doing this since 1998. The Nigerian diaspora community discussions and expat forums consistently reference us on this route for confirmed pricing and customs documentation support.

25+

Years operating

2mi

From Heathrow

FAQs

Your questions answered

How long does shipping to Nigeria take from the UK?−

Air freight from UK door to Lagos MMIA takes 5–9 working days from collection. Abuja and Port Harcourt take a similar or slightly longer transit time depending on the routing. Allow additional time for NCS customs clearance at the destination — this varies by the completeness of your documentation.

What are destination handling charges at Lagos?+

NAHCO and SAHCOL charge destination handling fees payable locally in Nigeria at the time of collection. These are not included in the UK shipping price. Your receiver pays these at the terminal before the shipment is released. We advise on expected charges at booking so your receiver is prepared.

Can I ship a barrel to Nigeria?+

Yes — barrels are a common and established shipping method for the UK-Nigeria route. Barrels are subject to a handling surcharge. They require a detailed itemised packing list — NCS inspects barrel contents. Call 0800 096 38 39 to confirm current barrel rates and any specific NCS requirements for your items.

What documentation does NCS (Nigerian Customs Service) require?+

NCS requires a detailed itemised packing list with declared values for every item (line by line, not 'assorted goods'), a copy of your passport, and the Air Waybill. Sender and receiver must be the same person. For returning Nigerians claiming any duty concessions, additional residency documentation may be required.

Do I need to be in Nigeria to collect my shipment?+

You or an authorised representative must collect from the NAHCO/SAHCOL terminal with your passport (or their passport with a signed authorisation letter) and the Air Waybill reference. The shipment will not be released without identification matching the receiver name on the Air Waybill.

Can I ship to Port Harcourt or Abuja instead of Lagos?+

Yes — we ship to all three main Nigerian airports: Lagos MMIA (LOS), Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe (ABV) and Port Harcourt (PHC). Lagos is our highest-volume route with the most established NAHCO/SAHCOL processes. Call 0800 096 38 39 for current routing and transit times to your specific destination.

What's the maximum weight per bag or box?+

30kg per item. This is one of our advantages over airlines — no overweight surcharges up to 30kg. For barrels over 30kg, advise at enquiry and we calculate the rate accordingly.

Is sea freight available to Nigeria?+

Sea freight to Nigeria is available and significantly cheaper per kg for large volumes. Transit time is 4–8 weeks. For moving a large volume of personal effects and household goods, sea freight may be the more economical choice. Call us to discuss the right split for your specific move.

Ready to ship your belongings to Moving to NigeriaShipping Your Belongings from the UK?

Clear quote before we collect. No guesswork. Established 1998.

📋 Get a Quote 📞 0800 096 38 39 💬 WhatsApp

UK Collection

We collect from your door anywhere in the UK

Door collection Monday to Friday from any UK address. Select your nearest city for local collection times and details:

London Manchester Birmingham Leeds Glasgow Edinburgh Liverpool Bristol Sheffield Newcastle Nottingham Leicester Bradford Cardiff Coventry Southampton Portsmouth Oxford Cambridge Reading/Slough Brighton Luton Milton Keynes Derby Stoke Wolverhampton Swansea Aberdeen Dundee Middlesbrough Exeter Plymouth York Belfast Hounslow Heathrow

✍ Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00