Shipping to Nigeria from the US: Barrels, Boxes, Cars and More

What you can ship to Nigeria

Shippers to Nigeria handle much more than barrels. Common shipments include:

How shipping to Nigeria works

1. Choose a shipper and ask for their next sailing and cutoff date.
2. Get a quote for what you're sending. Barrels and boxes usually have set prices; larger items are quoted separately.
3. Pack your goods and make a packing list.
4. Drop off or book a pickup. You get a receipt. Keep it, along with the booking or tracking code.
5. The shipper loads a container with many customers' goods and sends it to Nigeria.
6. The container arrives at Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island or Lekki) or sometimes Onne and goes through customs.
7. Your recipient collects the goods from the shipper's agent, or they are delivered if you paid for delivery.

Where shipments to Nigeria arrive

Most containers to Nigeria arrive in Lagos, at the Apapa, Tin Can Island or Lekki Deep Sea ports. Some go to Onne, near Port Harcourt. Many shippers have a warehouse or agent in Lagos and deliver to other cities such as Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Enugu.

Ask your shipper which port they use, where your recipient can collect, and whether they deliver to your recipient's city.

How long does it take?

Plan on roughly 6 to 10 weeks from drop-off to collection in Nigeria. The time adds up from:

• Waiting for the container to fill and sail. Most shippers sail on a schedule, weekly to monthly.
• The ocean voyage. The crossing from the US East Coast to West Africa takes several weeks, and some services stop at transshipment ports on the way.
• Unloading and customs clearance in Nigeria. Lagos ports can be congested, so this can take from about a week to several weeks.
• Collection or delivery to your recipient.

How much does it cost?

Prices vary by shipper, city and what you send, so get two or three quotes. These things affect what you pay:

The cheapest quote isn't always the cheapest in the end. Check what your recipient will be asked to pay when the goods arrive.

Check Nigeria's import prohibition list first

Nigeria keeps an import prohibition list of goods that can't be imported, or can only be imported with permission. It changes from time to time and includes some items people commonly send home, such as certain used clothing and some food products. Personal effects for your own family use may be treated differently from goods for sale, but don't assume.

Before you pack, check the current list on the Nigeria Customs Service website (customs.gov.ng) and ask your shipper what they accept. Prohibited items can be seized and can hold up the whole container.

What you can't send

• Firearms, ammunition, fireworks or explosives.
• Illegal drugs.
• Flammable liquids, gas cylinders, lighter fluid or paint thinners. Many shippers also refuse aerosols.
• Cash, jewellery or other valuables.
• Fresh, frozen or perishable food, meat, plants or seeds (agricultural items usually need permits).
• Counterfeit goods.
• Anything on the Nigeria Customs Service import prohibition list, unless you have the required permission.

Your shipper's list may be stricter than this, and some items need permits or licences. When in doubt, ask your shipper or check with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Packing tips

Barrels and boxes

• Use a sturdy barrel with a locking lid, or strong boxes taped on every seam.
• Put heavy items at the bottom and fill gaps with clothes or towels so nothing shifts.
• Double-bag liquids and anything that could leak.
• Don't overfill: ask your shipper if there is a weight limit.

Appliances, electronics and furniture

• Empty, clean and dry appliances, and tape doors shut.
• Drain fuel from generators and other engines before drop-off. Most shippers won't accept them with fuel inside.
• Wrap items in blankets or bubble wrap, and crate fragile pieces if your shipper recommends it.
• Photograph items and note serial numbers before drop-off.

Everything you send

• Write a packing list with each item, the quantity and its value, and keep a copy.
• Label everything with the recipient's full name, address and phone number, and yours.
• Keep receipts for new items. They help with customs.

Shipping a car or other vehicle

Vehicles need more planning than other goods:

• In the US: US Customs and Border Protection requires the vehicle's title and export documents to be presented at the port before export, generally at least 72 hours ahead. Your shipper will tell you what they need, usually the original title and the bill of sale.
• In Nigeria: there are age limits on imported vehicles, and duties and levies on vehicles can be high. Check the current rules before you buy.
• How it ships: in a container (sometimes with other goods) or on a roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessel. Ask your shipper which they use and what is included.

Nigeria customs: duty and clearance

Goods are cleared by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Duty, VAT and other charges may apply depending on what you send and its value.

• Declare contents honestly. Undervalued or undeclared items can lead to penalties and delays.
• Your recipient will usually need valid photo ID, plus any documents customs or the shipper's agent asks for to clear goods.
• Goods that look like they are for sale (many of the same item) can be charged differently from personal effects.
• Some recipients use a customs broker or clearing agent, or the shipper's agent handles clearance for a fee.

Rules change, so check with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) (customs.gov.ng) or ask your shipper what their customers need for clearance.

Collecting your goods in Nigeria

When the goods are ready, the shipper or their agent will contact your recipient. They will usually need:

• Valid photo ID and any documents the agent asks for.
• Your receipt, booking code or bill of lading number.
• Payment for any local charges or duty that weren't included.

Bring suitable transport for large items such as appliances and furniture, or pay for delivery. If you paid for delivery, the agent arranges a time to bring the goods to the address on the label. Delivery outside Lagos may cost more and take longer.

Tracking your shipment

Ask your shipper for a booking or tracking code when you drop off. If your shipper uses ShipBackHome, you can track your shipment with that code. No account is needed.

How to choose a shipper

• How long have they shipped to Nigeria, and what do reviews and people you know say?
• Do they handle what you are sending, such as appliances, furniture or vehicles?
• Do they give a clear price, including what your recipient pays in Nigeria?
• Do they give a written receipt and a booking or tracking code?
• Do they publish a sailing schedule and keep customers updated?
• Do they have a reliable agent in Nigeria, and do they deliver to your recipient's area?
• Is insurance available for valuable goods?