Nigeria Customs Service operates Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00 only. The airport cargo warehouse is open 07:00-21:00 seven days. Local destination handling charges of approximately $100-$150 USD apply at the arrival airport. Detailed itemised packing list with declared values is essential.
✈ Air freight to Nigeria: 4-10 working days, subject to space and flight availability with the carriers from UK door collection • ⚓ Sea freight: 3 weeks direct to Lagos • Price confirmed before we collect • Freephone 0800 096 38 39
These items are not automatically refused but face restrictions, duties, inspections or require specific documentation. Check before you pack.
Heavily taxed and restricted. Commercial quantities of used clothing are subject to import bans.
Only NAFDAC-approved medications permitted. Many UK medications require specific approval.
Many food products are restricted or banned. Check with NCS for specific items.
Require NAQS (National Agricultural Quarantine Service) inspection and certification.
Must comply with SON (Standards Organisation of Nigeria) standards. Some items require pre-shipment inspection.
Subject to specific import regulations and duties. Not accepted on personal effects services.
Import of spirits is controlled. Subject to duties and restrictions.
Import and export of Nigerian Naira is restricted. Foreign currency must be declared.
The following items are prohibited on all services — air freight, sea freight and door-to-door (subject to your destination). Do not pack them. Items found during inspection will be confiscated, and you may face penalties.
Customs clearance at destination is your responsibility as sender — who must also be the receiver for personal effects classification. Have these documents ready before we collect.
If customs or inspection issues arise at the destination — including holds, queries or inspections — you must respond promptly. Failure to respond, or submission of incorrect documentation, will result in storage charges accumulating at the destination warehouse at your cost.
You are liable for storage, inspection fees and any duties that arise where:
If you are unsure about any item, its declared value, or the documentation required for your destination — call us before you pack. We would rather spend ten minutes on the phone with you than have your shipment held at customs for two weeks while fees accumulate.
After more than two decades on this route, we know exactly what causes shipments to be held, delayed or refused at Nigeria customs. These are the practical tips that make the difference.
NCS operates Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00 only. Plan your collection trip on a weekday.
The cargo warehouse is open 07:00-21:00 seven days — but customs clearance only happens on weekdays.
Keep declared values realistic. NCS inspectors will assess and can impose duties on undervalued goods.
Destination charges are not included in your UK quote — budget $100-$150 USD at the Nigeria end.
Itemise everything on your packing list. "Miscellaneous items" will be held for inspection.
“We collect your luggage ourselves. We check it is properly packed, wrapped and secured before it leaves your door. After 28 years we know what arrives safely and what doesn’t. That happens before the bag is in the air — not after.”
Your UK shipping quote does not include the following destination charges. These are levied by governing bodies and government agencies at the arrival country and are payable by you directly at destination:
These charges are mandatory, set by the destination country’s governing bodies, and outside our control. We will advise you of known destination charges for your route at the time of booking so you can budget accordingly. If you have questions about what to expect at your destination, call us on 0800 096 38 39 before you book.