Importing Goods from Nigeria to the UK: A Business Guide

The UK has a growing appetite for Nigerian products — from food and textiles to crafts and raw materials. If you're looking to import goods from Nigeria, here's what you need to know about the logistics, regulations, and costs.

The import process starts with sourcing your goods in Nigeria and arranging collection to the port. We work with partner warehouses in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt to receive and consolidate your cargo. Sea freight from Lagos to Felixstowe typically takes 3-5 weeks, with full container rates from £1,800 (20ft) and shared container space from £65 per CBM.

UK customs requirements for Nigerian imports include a commercial invoice with HMRC commodity codes, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and any product-specific certificates (food safety, phytosanitary, conformity assessments). Import duty rates vary by product — use the UK Trade Tariff tool to check your specific commodity codes.

Food imports require particular attention. The UK Food Standards Agency regulates all food imports, and Nigerian food products must meet UK safety standards. You'll need a CHED (Common Health Entry Document) for products of animal origin, and phytosanitary certificates for plant-based products. Non-compliant shipments will be held at the border.

VAT at 20% applies to all imports based on the customs value (goods value plus shipping and insurance costs). Businesses registered for VAT can reclaim this as input tax. Import duty is calculated on the CIF value and varies from 0% to over 20% depending on the commodity.

For regular importers, we offer business accounts with consolidated billing, dedicated account management, and volume-based pricing. Our customs team handles all documentation on both the Nigerian export side and UK import side, ensuring smooth clearance at both ends.