How to Ship from the US to Nigeria: Complete 2026 Guide

Nigeria is Africa's largest economy and its most populated country, with over 220 million people and a rapidly growing middle class that increasingly shops online for American products. Technology, fashion, health supplements, and educational materials are all in strong demand. But shipping to Nigeria requires more planning than shipping to Europe or East Asia — customs processes are slower, infrastructure outside Lagos and Abuja is less developed, and there are some restrictions that might surprise you.

Picking a Carrier

The carrier you choose matters more for Nigeria than for most destinations because reliability varies significantly. DHL has the strongest presence in West Africa and consistently delivers the most predictable experience. Their express service to Nigeria runs 3 to 5 days and includes customs brokerage — which means DHL handles the clearance process on both ends, reducing the chance of your package sitting at customs for days without anyone pushing it along. For packages over 10 pounds, DHL's rates are also competitive, especially if you negotiate a business account.

USPS is the cheapest option for lightweight packages under four pounds. First-Class Package International Service starts around $15 to $20 with transit times of 14 to 28 days. Those longer transit times are real, not worst-case estimates — packages to Nigeria routinely take three to four weeks via economy services because the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) handles last-mile delivery, and their network moves slowly. Priority Mail International cuts the time to 6 to 10 days for about $45 to $65 depending on weight, but once the package enters the Nigerian postal system, USPS loses control of the delivery timeline.

FedEx International Economy and Priority services deliver in 3 to 8 days with strong tracking visibility throughout the journey. FedEx's advantage in Nigeria is their door-to-door service in major cities — Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan all have well-served FedEx networks. Outside those cities, delivery may involve a regional transfer partner, which can add a day or two.

UPS Worldwide Expedited and Worldwide Saver cover the 3-to-7-day range and are reliable for commercial shipments. UPS is particularly strong for heavier packages (above 20 pounds) where their volume pricing tiers become competitive. Both UPS and FedEx handle customs brokerage as part of their express services, which simplifies the process considerably.

Nigerian Customs: What You Need to Know

Nigeria's customs system, managed by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has a reputation for being thorough — sometimes frustratingly so. Documentation needs to be complete and accurate because errors don't get quietly corrected; they get flagged, and flagged shipments can sit for days.

The import duty threshold is relatively low at NGN 50,000 (roughly $30 to $35 USD depending on the exchange rate). Above this value, expect the recipient to pay import duty ranging from 5 to 35 percent depending on the product category, plus a 7.5 percent VAT. Electronics face 5 to 10 percent duty on average. Clothing runs 20 to 35 percent. Car parts and machinery fall somewhere in between. Nigeria also applies a 1 percent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) levy and a 0.5 percent ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme levy on certain goods.

Your customs declaration needs to include a detailed product description (not just "merchandise" or "goods"), the HS code, declared value, quantity, and country of origin. Undervaluing shipments to help your customer avoid duties is risky — NCS actively checks declared values against known market prices, and undervalued shipments get flagged for inspection. The consequences include delays, fines, and potential seizure.

Prohibited and Restricted Items

Nigeria has a longer prohibited imports list than most countries, and some of the items on it might surprise you. Used clothing is banned — an ongoing protectionist measure to support Nigeria's domestic textile industry. Used electronics are restricted but generally allowed for personal use. Certain medications require import permits from NAFDAC (Nigeria's FDA equivalent). Food products, cosmetics, and packaged beverages need NAFDAC certification.

Items absolutely prohibited from import include: used mattresses, used motor vehicles older than 15 years, bagged cement, mosquito net materials (reserved for domestic production), and various agricultural products. Weapons and ammunition require security service permits. Religious literature is generally fine but can trigger additional screening depending on content.

Making Deliveries Reliable

Address formatting in Nigeria is less standardized than in the US or Europe. Many streets don't have formal numbers, and delivery instructions like "opposite the blue gate after the second turn" are common. For shipments to residential addresses outside major cities, consider using a combination of the recipient's phone number and neighborhood landmarks. DHL and FedEx both have local drivers who navigate by phone contact as much as by written address.

Including the recipient's phone number on the customs declaration is essential, not optional. Nigerian customs and carriers use phone contact to coordinate delivery, collect duties, and verify shipment details. A missing phone number can delay delivery by days.

For business-to-business shipments, ask your Nigerian customer for their TIN (Tax Identification Number) and any relevant import licenses before shipping. Having these documents referenced on the customs declaration speeds clearance and demonstrates that the import is legitimate.

Shipping Strategy for Regular Nigeria Sellers

If you ship to Nigeria regularly, several strategies keep costs manageable. First, always compare carrier rates per package — the cheapest carrier shifts depending on weight, dimensions, and how fast the customer needs it. DHL might win on a 5-pound express package while USPS wins on a 2-pound economy shipment.

Second, be transparent with your Nigerian customers about potential import duties. Duty and VAT are the customer's responsibility upon delivery, and unexpected charges are the number one reason for refused deliveries in Nigeria. A simple note on your product page — "Nigerian customers may be charged import duty and VAT at delivery" — prevents confusion and reduces the chance of a package being refused and returned at your expense.

Third, ship mid-week. Monday shipments often hit the Nigerian customs queue at peak volume, while Wednesday and Thursday shipments tend to clear faster. This isn't a hard rule, but logistics managers who ship to Lagos regularly report noticeably faster clearance on mid-week arrivals.

atoship simplifies shipping to Nigeria by comparing rates across all major carriers in real time, generating accurate customs documentation with HS codes, and tracking packages through the entire delivery chain including Nigerian customs clearance.