Starting to Import into Nigeria: Your First Shipment

Why a first import feels frightening

Many people who want to import into Nigeria live in the UK, the US, Canada or Europe. They have a product in mind, perhaps a supplier, and a real worry: what if the money is lost, the goods sit at the port, or nobody I trust is there to check?

These fears are reasonable, and each has a practical answer. A first import is a chain of ordinary steps: buying, packing, shipping, customs clearing, collection and delivery. The chain only becomes frightening when no one has told you what the steps are or who looks after each one. This article sets them out in order.

Before you buy: settle the basics

The best moment to ask for help is before you pay your supplier. Three questions decide how smoothly everything else goes. What exactly are you importing? Can that kind of goods be brought in on normal terms, or does it need a permit first? And who is the buyer named on the paperwork?

Ask your supplier for a proper commercial invoice, which is the document that states what was sold, in what quantity and at what price. Check that the description is specific. A line that simply says "goods" or "assorted items" invites questions at customs. The name and address of the person receiving the cargo, called the consignee, should be written exactly the same way on every document.

Also agree the shipping terms in writing. Some suppliers deliver to a port abroad and stop there; others arrange the sea freight too. Knowing where the supplier's job ends tells you where yours, or your forwarder's, begins.

Choosing how the goods travel

A full container suits large volumes. If your first order is small, you can share a container with other importers. This is called consolidated or part-load cargo, and it lets a beginner ship a modest quantity without paying for a whole container.

Whichever you choose, the shipping line issues a bill of lading, the document that proves the goods are on the vessel and names who may collect them. Your forwarder needs a copy as soon as it exists, because clearing in Nigeria can be prepared while the ship is still at sea.

Ask for the vessel's expected arrival date and the port it will use, and expect these to move a little. Plan around a range of dates rather than a single day.

What happens when the goods arrive

Customs clearing means preparing the declaration for the Nigeria Customs Service, agreeing the value and classification of the goods, paying what is due, and obtaining release so the cargo can leave the terminal. A forwarder who clears goods regularly knows which documents are needed and in what order.

The goods may also be examined. For a beginner this sounds alarming, but it is a normal part of the process. Having accurate documents and a representative present on your behalf keeps it routine.

After release, the cargo must be collected from the terminal and delivered. Storage and container charges can build up if the goods wait, so a delivery address, a named receiver and a transport plan should be ready before the ship arrives, not after.

Staying in control from abroad

You do not have to stand at the port to stay in control. You need a forwarder who tells you, in plain words, where the goods are and what happens next. Ask for an update when the documents are checked, when the vessel arrives, when customs processing begins, when the cargo is released and when it is delivered.

Keep your own record of invoices, receipts and messages. If anything is unclear, ask early. A question at the document stage costs nothing; the same question at the quay can cost days.

Planning your first import with Vandyvah

Vandyvah's customs and freight forwarding team works with first-time importers from the supplier's documents through clearing, collection and delivery, and keeps you updated wherever you live. We would encourage you to begin with a small first shipment, learn the process on modest value, and build from there.

If you are thinking of buying, contact the operations team before the cargo ships. A short conversation about your goods, your supplier and your timing is the simplest way to start your first import calmly.