- MyUS charges as low as $10 to ship items from the US to Nigeria without including the Nigerian taxes and duties once your items arrive in the country. (Source)
- According to MyUS, average transit times are 5 to 10 business days for economy shipping and 3 to 4 business days for express shipping.
- One Reddit user who frequently ships to Nigeria says that they use a freight forwarder called Corporate Messengers that charges $5 per pound, with shipping taking about 2 weeks.
- Other Reddit users who ship to Nigeria recommend using DHL and UPS, though they caution that it can be expensive- best to price it out on their websites
- The shipping costs from the US to Nigeria depend on the level of service you require and the size, weight of your parcel, and discounts (if applicable). (Source)
- The two main options for shipping items from the US to Nigeria include air freight and sea freight, with air freight being fast but expensive and sea freight being slow but affordable. (Source)
- The Nigerian customs authority will allow you to import your household goods or personal effects duty-free into the country so long as you owned and used them for more than six months and you plan to use them again in the country. (Source)
You have the opportunity to compare the rates between different shipping companies when looking to ship items to Nigeria.
If your goal is to get the items to the destination without worrying about the costs, use a shipping service that uses air freight.
Shipping companies that offer sea freight services will be ideal if you’re operating on a budget and wouldn’t mind waiting several weeks for your cargo to reach Nigeria.
Cost Factors
Nigeria is a West-African country with a unique set of laws governing taxes and duties charged on shipped items. Other factors affect the cost of shipping items from the US to Nigeria. Understanding these factors will help you decide the means to use to get your goods to the country. Here they are:
1. The force of Demand and Supply
Carriers usually consider the profits they’ll get from shipping items to destination countries. In this case, the demand and supply of goods and transport services hugely affect the shipping costs. In developing countries such as Nigeria, transport costs (or freight rates) make up 15 to 20 percent of exported and imported goods.
Thus, commodities purchased at a lower price in the developing world cost significantly higher once they reach the area of destination. (Source) People having their goods shipped overseas to Nigeria have no other option than to comply with this rule. It’s mostly because the demand for freight services is higher than the actual capacity to meet them.
2. Inefficiency at the Local Ports
High costs of sea shipping in Nigeria are a result of the inefficient local ports. Despite being one of Africa’s largest economies, Nigeria has a handful of functional ports. There’s also a slow pace of offloading and inspections at the docks, which means that it takes a while before people get their goods cleared. (Source)
Besides the carrier’s shipping fees, excessive, unwanted duty fees charged at the destination make it unattractive to ship goods to Nigeria. The ports’ inefficiencies also come from the incentivized and enabled corruption from unofficial and official middlemen who promise to clear clients’ goods faster at a “fee.”
The Nigerian government recently launched reforms to ease export and import flow at the ports. (Source) With these reforms in place, touts who extort clients are likely to stop operating. However, the implementation of the reforms isn’t as effective as the government paints it to be.
3. Size and Weight of Parcel
The size and weight of a parcel are standard considerations for shipping costs. A bigger or oddly shaped package will have fewer orders packed near it, hence reducing the money made by the shipping company. The carrier will ask you to pay more for such parcels to compensate for space in shipping containers. (Source) However, something small, like if you’re shipping a coffee mug, or shipping a wedding dress, would logically cost a lot less.
Some freight companies overlook the dim divisor used to calculate parcels’ dimensions, hence charging their clients higher shipping fees. It’s important to know the dimensions of your goods before having them shipped. Luckily, freight services such as UPS and FedEx allow you to maximize your parcels’ density through their package optimization services. (Source)
More considerations
When shipping something to Nigeria, it is important to be aware of the country’s import restrictions. Nigeria has a number of restrictions in place that may affect what you are able to ship. Additionally, there are a few things to keep in mind in terms of packaging and labeling your shipment.
Nigeria’s import restrictions are primarily in place to protect the country’s economy. Nigeria does not want to be flooded with imported goods that may undercut local businesses. As a result, there are restrictions on certain types of products, including used clothing and shoes, electronics, and certain food items.
When packaging your shipment for Nigeria, it is important to label everything clearly. All packages should be labeled with the sender’s name and address, as well as the recipient’s name and address. Additionally, it is a good idea to include a list of the contents of the package on the outside. This will help customs officials quickly identify what is inside the package.
It is also important to be aware of any applicable fees or charges when shipping to Nigeria. Some shipping companies may charge additional fees for shipping to Nigeria, so be sure to check with your chosen carrier before sending your shipment.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your shipment arrives safely and without any problems in Nigeria.
How to choose a Nigerian shipping service
When shipping to Nigeria, it is important to choose a shipping service that is familiar with the country’s import restrictions. This will ensure that your package arrives without any problems.
There are a number of shipping services that operate in Nigeria, including DHL, FedEx, and UPS. It is important to research each of these services to find one that is reputable and has a good track record of delivering shipments to Nigeria.
Additionally, it is a good idea to get quotes from multiple shipping services before choosing one. This will help you ensure that you are getting the best possible price for shipping your package to Nigeria.
By following these tips, you can choose a shipping service that will safely deliver your package to Nigeria.
Nigeria Customs Information
All shipments to Nigeria must go through customs. It is important to be aware of the customs regulations in Nigeria before sending your shipment.
All packages sent to Nigeria must be labeled with the sender’s name and address, as well as the recipient’s name and address. Additionally, it is a good idea to include a list of the contents of the package on the outside. This will help customs officials quickly identify what is inside the package.
It is also important to be aware of any applicable fees or charges when shipping to Nigeria. Some shipping companies may charge additional fees for shipping to Nigeria, so be sure to check with your chosen carrier before sending your shipment.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your package clears customs without any problems in Nigeria.
Hi, my name’s David. I started this pricing blog as a side project to help people figure out the best prices on common services. Whether you’re trying to figure out how much it costs to get scanning done at Staples or the expense to bleach short hair, more than likely I’ve blogged about it. Shoot me an email if you have any questions: david@mightyprice.com.
