Africa
Shipping from Nigeria to the UK
Lagos handles the bulk of West African container volume through Apapa and Tin Can Island, with Lekki adding deep-water capacity.
Container shipping from the UK to Nigeria runs full container load to Lagos (Apapa) (NGLOS) and Tin Can Island (NGTIN). There is no scheduled less than container load service to Nigeria at present. Sea transit is 18–24 days port to port and air freight 1–3 days. We collect from any UK address and handle UK export clearance; customs charges in Nigeria are not included.
Where we ship
Ports in Nigeria
Full container load and groupage both go to Lagos (Apapa) and Tin Can Island. Select a port for its location, code and indicative transit.
- UK door
- UK port
- Lagos (Apapa) or Tin Can Island
Packed and sealed at your premises, then straight to the port — usually Southampton.
Less than container load
There is no scheduled groupage service to Nigeria at present. Smaller consignments are quoted case by case — tell us the volume and we will say which option is genuinely cheaper.
Get a price for Nigeria
The three modes are quoted separately — they are priced on different things entirely: a container, a cubic metre and a kilo.
Indicative pricing
Starting points for sea freight from the UK, not port-specific figures — the rate for your shipment depends on the arrival port, the sailing and the commodity. Customs charges, duty and taxes in Nigeria are payable there and are not included.
| Service | From | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| FCL — 20ft General Purpose | £1,720.00 | per 20ft container |
| FCL — 40ft General Purpose | £2,700.00 | per 40ft container |
| LCL groupage | £92.00 | per cubic metre |
| Air freight | Please check with our team | per 100kg chargeable weight |
These are starting prices for the freight, not shipment totals. A groupage rate is what one cubic metre of cargo costs, so a 10 cubic metre consignment costs roughly ten times the figure shown. Figures are indicative, in GBP, and cover the sea freight from the UK only — customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included. Your firm quote depends on the exact route, the cargo and the sailing.
What can you ship to Nigeria?
Industrial machinery and spares, oil and gas equipment, construction plant and materials, electrical goods and medical devices move through Lagos (Apapa and Tin Can Island) and Onne.
Cargo needs to be palletised, shrink-wrapped and labelled with the consignee, because groupage is handled several times between your loading bay and the delivery address. Anything containing lithium batteries, aerosols, paints, solvents or compressed gas needs declaring at booking — it usually still travels, it just changes the packing and the paperwork rather than simply the price.
What tax and duty applies on import into Nigeria?
Nigeria charges VAT at a standard rate of 7.5%, charged on the customs value plus duty plus applicable levies. Customs duty is separate and runs at 5–35%, plus levies on many categories, set by the commodity code of the specific goods.
Nigeria has the lowest headline VAT rate on this list at 7.5%, but the duty and levy stack more than makes up for it on protected categories. Two pre-shipment steps are non-negotiable: a Form M must be opened through the consignee's bank before the goods ship, and regulated products need a SONCAP certificate issued in the country of export. Cargo arriving without either is not delayed — it is refused.
What are the import restrictions in Nigeria?
Four things are worth checking before you book rather than after the vessel sails.
What documents do I need to import into Nigeria?
These cover the far end of the journey and belong to your consignee. We prepare and file the transport and commercial paperwork, but their own registrations are issued to them by their own authorities and cannot be obtained on their behalf.
What documents do you need in the UK to export?
A second, separate set of paperwork — and this one is yours rather than your consignee's. It is the part first-time exporters are most often caught by, because the destination requirements get all the attention and the British side looks like a formality until it stops a booking.
Duty depends on the commodity code of the specific goods, and rates change. This is general guidance, not tax or legal advice. Customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included in our freight quote. Rates last reviewed .
Nigeria to the UK shipping: FAQs
How long does shipping from the UK to Nigeria take?
Sea freight runs about 18–24 days port to port, and air freight 1–3 days airport to airport. Lagos (Apapa) is the quickest sea gateway on this lane at around 18 days. These are indicative figures measured port to port; the transit for your exact collection address and delivery address, including the inland legs at both ends, is confirmed at quote stage.
Which ports do you ship to in Nigeria?
We move cargo through 2 ports in Nigeria: Lagos (Apapa) (NGLOS), Tin Can Island (NGTIN). Full container load goes to Lagos (Apapa) and Tin Can Island. We have no scheduled groupage service to Nigeria at present, so part loads are quoted case by case. Each port page lists its location, code and indicative transit.
Do you handle customs clearance for Nigeria?
We handle the UK side: we file your export declaration with HMRC against your GB EORI number and raise the transport and commercial documents that travel with the shipment. Customs charges in Nigeria — duty, import tax and any local clearance fees — are payable there by the consignee and are not included in our rates, unless you have agreed a DDP Incoterm that puts them on you. Budget for them separately; they are the most common reason a landed cost comes in above the freight quote.
What should I know before shipping on the Nigeria lane?
Congestion around the Lagos terminals is a well-known feature of this lane, and container dwell time can exceed the variability of the sea leg. Build realistic slack into any date you commit to a customer. Cargo commonly moving on this lane includes machinery and industrial equipment, construction and infrastructure materials, vehicles, parts and accessories.
Compare lanes
Other countries we ship to and from
Rates and transit times for countries near Nigeria — each one works as an origin or a destination.
South Africa
Import & export · Durban
LCL from
£88.00
per cubic metre
20+ days
View lane
Kenya
Import & export · Mombasa
LCL from
£93.00
per cubic metre
24+ days
View lane
Egypt
Import & export · Alexandria
LCL from
£69.00
per cubic metre
12+ days
View lanePlan the rest of the move
Shipping from Nigeria? Get a quote.
Any country to any country, import or export — send us the origin, destination and cargo details and we'll come back with a competitive rate within one business day.