Countries · NG
Nigeria: sanctions and trade risk
As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 22 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Nigeria.Lists last checked .
Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓
No elevated country indicator for Nigeria in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Nigeria may still be on a list.
On the sanctions lists
22 entries on the official lists name Nigeria — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.
| List | Entries | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) | 13 | 13 | — | — |
| UK Sanctions List (FCDO) | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| UN Security Council Consolidated List | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF) | 2 | 2 | — | — |
Latest changes
No new listings or removals naming Nigeria recorded yet.
Related
Logistics profile
Nigeria: logistics and trade
Africa's largest economy; oil and gas exporter and West African import and transit hub
Nigeria (NG) is Africa's largest economy, acting as West Africa's import and transit hub and a major oil and gas exporter. The country belongs to ECOWAS and applies its common external tariff with bands of 0/5/10/20/35 per cent; import clearance runs through the new B'Odogwu system (replacing NICIS II) with a mandatory e-Form M and PAAR, and import VAT is 7.5 per cent. The main gateways are the Lagos ports of Apapa and Tin Can Island, the Lekki Deep Sea Port and Onne for the oil and gas sector; air cargo is dominated by Lagos (LOS) and Abuja (ABV). Key axes are the Lagos–Ibadan–Abuja and Lagos–Abidjan (ECOWAS) road corridors plus the Lagos–Ibadan and Abuja–Kaduna rail lines. Exports centre on crude oil, natural gas and cocoa, while imports comprise machinery, vehicles and chemicals; the main trading partners are China, India, the Netherlands and the United States.
- Capital
- Abuja
- Population
- 232,679,478
- Area
- 923,768 km²
- Currency
- Nigerian naira (NGN)
- Continent
- Africa
- Region
- West Africa
- Economic area
- ECOWAS
- Religions
- Islam, Christianity
- Access to the sea
- Yes
Transport modes Sea · Road · Air · Rail
- Current situation
- Nationwide B'Odogwu rollout; transition problems (delays, demurrage) being resolved with the Shippers' Council. Container backlog in Apapa/Tin Can continues. From 1.4.2026 lower import duties on vehicles, rice, palm oil and sugar. (As of 2026-07-23)
- Seasonal conditions
- Rainy season approx. April to October in the south with flood risk; Harmattan dust December to February in the north can affect visibility and flight operations.
Main seaports
- Lagos
Lagos (NG LOS): Nigeria's ports hit 129.3Mt in 2025 (+24.8%), Lekki leads with 40.6%. New single-window system cuts customs clearance to 48-72h. Alt: Lekki, Tema.
- Tin Can Island
Tin Can Island (NG TIN): Lagos container port, ~395,000 TEU a year across five terminals. Customs, Apapa congestion and Lekki/Onne alternatives for forwarders.
- Onne
Onne (NG ONN), Nigeria: one of the world's largest oil-and-gas free zones, with the WACT container terminal (~385,000 TEU) serving offshore logistics.
- Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt (NG PHC): NPA river port on the Bonny River, Niger Delta. Two terminals for general, bulk and liquid cargo, ~3.46 M t/year; alternatives Onne and Lagos.
- Calabar
Calabar Port (NG CBQ) on the Calabar River: containers, general cargo, cement, cocoa and project loads for eastern Nigeria. Alternatives: Onne, Port Harcourt, Lagos.
- Warri
Warri (NG WAR), Niger Delta: multipurpose port for crude oil, LPG, steel and general cargo, ~1,000 TEU/year. Alternatives: Onne, Apapa, Tin Can.
Main cargo airports
- Murtala Muhammed International AirportLOS
Murtala Muhammed International (LOS), Lagos: Nigeria's largest cargo airport. Handled by NAHCO and SAHCO, close to Apapa and Tin Can Island seaports.
- Nnamdi Azikiwe International AirportABV
Abuja's Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (ABV): about 9,130 t of air cargo in 2024, FAAN freight terminal, customs, alternatives Lagos (LOS) and Kano (KAN).
- Port Harcourt International AirportPHC
Port Harcourt International (PHC): Nigeria's 3rd-busiest airport, oil & gas cargo via NAHCO/SAHCOL, 44 km from the Onne Free Zone.
- Mallam Aminu International AirportKAN
Mallam Aminu Kano (KAN): northern Nigeria's main cargo airport. NAHCO/SAHCO handlers, cold room, new 2025 freight facility, free trade zone, Hajj hub.
Road corridors
- Lagos-Ibadan-Abuja
- Lagos-Abidjan (ECOWAS corridor)
- Kano-Niamey
- Abuja-Kano-Maiduguri
Rail corridors
- Lagos-Ibadan (standard gauge)
- Abuja-Kaduna
- Itakpe-Warri
- Kano-Maradi (under construction)
Inland ports
- Onitsha River Port
- Baro
- Lokoja
Main trade lanes
- China-Lagos
- Netherlands/EU-Lagos
- India-Nigeria
- Nigeria-EU (oil/gas)
- USA-Nigeria
Customs and import
Customs authority Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)Official website ↗
- Import customs system
- Electronic clearance via NICIS II, migrating to the new B'Odogwu Unified Customs Management System. Mandatory: e-Form M and the PAAR (Pre-Arrival Assessment Report) via the Single Window (trade.gov.ng).
- Export customs system
- Export processing via NICIS II and the Single Window. Mandatory: Form NXP at an authorised bank and registration as an exporter with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
- Import VAT
- Import VAT 7,5 percent on customs value (CIF plus duty and levies); since 1.1.2026 Nigeria Tax Act 2025: staple foods zero-rated, medicines VAT-exempt. Customs rates under the ECOWAS Common External Tariff 0/5/10/20/35 percent.
- Proofs of origin and trade agreements
- Preferential origin proofs under ECOWAS (ETLS) and the AfCFTA origin declaration; in addition, the chamber of commerce Certificate of Origin for general consignments.
- Restricted and prohibited goods
- NCS Import Prohibition List, including: used vehicles older than 12 years, rice via land borders, frozen poultry, used tyres. Regulated goods require SONCAP (SON) or NAFDAC approval.
Typical import documents
- e-Form M
- PAAR
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading
- SONCAP certificate
- NAFDAC registration (regulated goods)
Typical export documents
- Form NXP
- NEPC exporter registration
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Certificate of origin
- Bill of lading
Logistics conditions
- Customs complexity
- High
- Customs delays
- High
- Port congestion
- High
- Dangerous goods relevance
- Medium to high
- Pharma and cold chain relevance
- Medium to high
- E-commerce relevance
- High
Trade
Top import partners
Top export partners
Top import goods
- Machinery
- Vehicles
- Petroleum products
- Chemicals
- Foodstuffs
Top export goods
- Crude oil
- Natural gas
- Petroleum products
- Cocoa
- Sesame
Typical cargo
- Crude oil and natural gas
- Petroleum products
- Machinery and vehicles
- Chemicals
- Consumer goods
- Agricultural products (cocoa, sesame)
Upcoming public holidays
- Christmas DayFri, 25 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- Boxing DaySat, 26 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- New Year's DayFri, 1 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
- Good FridayFri, 26 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
- Easter MondayMon, 29 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
- Workers' DaySat, 1 May 2027 · businesses closed
- Democracy DaySat, 12 Jun 2027 · businesses closed
- Independence DayFri, 1 Oct 2027 · businesses closed
Latest logistics news
- Customs Operation ZAFIRO: Authorities Seize Eleven Small Aircraft10 Sept 2026
19 countries conducted inspections of small and private aircraft. During the operations, eleven aircraft were seized and approximately 1.2 tons of drugs were confiscated.
- Saudi Arabia Establishes 14-Nation Alliance for the Red Sea3 Aug 2026
Saudi Arabia leads a 14-nation alliance to protect the Red Sea. In the short term, little is changing for shipping companies: the mission is still in the build-up phase.
Logistics questions
What is the import VAT rate in Nigeria?
Import VAT is 7,5 percent and is levied on the customs value (CIF plus duty, surcharge and levies). Since 1.1.2026, staple foods and medicines are VAT-exempt.
Which customs tariff rates apply in Nigeria?
Nigeria applies the ECOWAS Common External Tariff with bands of 0, 5, 10, 20 and 35 percent. The 2026 fiscal policy reduces import duties on vehicles, rice, palm oil and sugar from 1.4.2026.
Which documents do I need for an import into Nigeria?
Required are an e-Form M, the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading. For regulated goods, a SONCAP certificate (SON) and, where applicable, NAFDAC registration are also required.
What is the B'Odogwu system?
B'Odogwu is the new Unified Customs Management System of the Nigeria Customs Service. It is gradually replacing NICIS II and is intended to shorten clearance times and increase transparency.
What are Nigeria's most important ports?
The Lagos ports Apapa and Tin Can Island handle most of the container traffic. The Lekki Deep Sea Port, opened in 2023, is the largest deep-sea port; Onne and Port Harcourt serve the oil and gas sector.
Which goods are prohibited from import into Nigeria?
The NCS Import Prohibition List prohibits, among other things, used vehicles older than 12 years, rice across land borders, frozen poultry and used tyres. The current list is available at customs.gov.ng.
How do I export from Nigeria?
Exporters register with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and open a Form NXP at an authorised bank. In addition, they need a commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading.
Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗
Powered by Freight Academy, verified 23 Jul 2026. Logistics information, not a sanctions source.