Free tool · The Logistics Files

Can I even import or export this?

Most importers ask "what will the duty be?" long before they ask "am I allowed to bring this in at all?" That is the wrong way round, because the second question can end the deal, and the answer costs nothing to find out.

Nigeria bans some goods outright, and lets others in only with permission that must be obtained before the goods are loaded. Miss one of those and the shipment is not delayed, it is stuck, and several of those permits genuinely cannot be obtained after the ship has sailed. Exports have a short ban list of their own. Choose import or export, type the product, and find out where you stand.

What do you want to move?

I am importing it into Nigeria I am exporting it out of Nigeria

In your own words. "Frozen chicken", "used fridge", "solar panel", "children's shoes".

The three answers you can get

BannedOn the import prohibition list. No permit fixes this. The answer is to source it locally or not at all.

Allowed, with permission firstImportable, but only with a certificate or registration that has to be in place before the goods load.

Nothing special foundNot on any list here. You still need a Form M and the ordinary paperwork, and you should still confirm.

The full import prohibition list

As published by the Nigeria Customs Service on its Import Prohibition List page. Last checked 10 October 2026. The official page shows no effective date.

This list changes. It has been revised in budget announcements and by policy circular, sometimes at short notice. Treat it as a strong warning to check, not as a final answer. The product codes are customs' own: the duty calculator uses them to flag a banned product the moment you pick it.

Live or dead birds, including frozen poultry Banned Codes: 0105.1100 to 0105.9900, 0106.3100 to 0106.3900, 0207.1100 to 0207.3600, 0210.9900 Covers frozen poultry of all kinds. One of the most heavily enforced bans and one of the most commonly attempted.

Pork and beef Banned Codes: 0201.1000 to 0204.5000, 0206.1000 to 0206.9000, 0210.1000 to 0210.2000 The published code range runs from 0201 to 0204, which also takes in sheep and goat meat. If you are importing lamb or goat, confirm with customs how that range is applied.

Birds' eggs Banned in some forms Codes: 0407.0000 Hatching eggs are excluded from the ban.

Refined vegetable oils and fats Banned in some forms Codes: 1507.1000.00 to 1516.2000.29 Refined linseed, castor and olive oils are excluded. Crude vegetable oil is not banned: the ban is on refined oil ready for sale.

Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose Banned in some forms Codes: 1701.91.0000 to 1701.99.0000 The ban is on solid sugar with added flavouring or colouring, in retail packs. Bulk sugar for industry is a different position.

Cocoa butter, powder and cakes Banned Codes: 1802.00.0000 to 1803.2000.00, 1804.00.0000, 1805.00, 1806.10.0000 to 1806.20.0000

Spaghetti and noodles Banned Codes: 1902.1100 to 1902.3000

Fruit juice in retail packs Banned in some forms Codes: 2009.11.0012, 2009.11.0013, 2009.9000.99 Retail packs only.

Mineral and aerated waters with added sugar or flavour, and ice or snow Banned in some forms Codes: 2201.1000 to 2201.90.00 The ban is on waters with added sugar or sweetener, or flavoured. Plain water without additives is a different position, so check the exact description.

Other non-alcoholic drinks Banned Codes: 2202.10.00 to 2202.9000.99 Energy and health drinks (liquid dietary supplements) are excluded, under code 2202.9000.91.

Beer and stout Banned Codes: 2203.0010.00 to 2203.0090.00 In bottles, cans or other packs.

Bagged cement Banned Codes: 2523.2900.22 Bulk cement for local bagging is a different position from cement already in bags.

Certain medicines (headings 3003 and 3004) Banned in some forms Codes: 3003 and 3004, named medicines only Only a named list is banned: paracetamol, cotrimoxazole, metronidazole and chloroquine tablets and syrups; iron, folic acid and vitamin B tablets; multivitamins; aspirin (not modified-release or soluble); magnesium trisilicate; piperazine; levamisole; clotrimazole cream; penicillin and gentamicin ointments; pyrantel pamoate; and intravenous fluids. Other medicines are not banned but need NAFDAC registration.

Waste pharmaceuticals Banned Codes: 3006.9200

Mineral or chemical fertilisers with two or three of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium Banned in some forms Codes: 3105.10.00.00 to 3105.90.00.00 NPK-type fertilisers such as 15-15-15. Organic fertiliser is excluded.

Soaps and detergents Banned in some forms Codes: 3401.11.1000 to 3402.90.0000 Retail packs only.

Mosquito repellent coils Banned Codes: 3808.9110.91

Retreaded and used pneumatic tyres Banned Codes: 4012.2010.00 New tyres are importable. Used truck tyres of size 11.00 x 20 and above, for retreading, are excluded.

Corrugated paper and paperboard Banned Codes: 4808.1000

Cartons, boxes and cases of corrugated paper Banned Codes: 4819.1000

Toilet paper, cleaning tissue and facial tissue Banned Codes: 4818.1000 to 4818.9000 Baby diapers and adult incontinence pads (4818.4000.41) are excluded.

Exercise books Banned Codes: 4820.2000

Telephone recharge cards and vouchers Banned Codes: 4911.9900.91 The customs page prints this code as 4911.9900.91, and another government page prints 4911.9990.91, so both are checked here.

Carpets and other textile floor coverings Banned Codes: 5701.10.0000 to 5705.00.0000

Footwear, bags and suitcases Banned in some forms Codes: 6401.1000.11 to 6405.9000.99, 4202.1100.10 to 4202.9900.99 Oil-industry safety shoes, sports shoes, canvas shoes, and CKD blanks and parts are excluded. Ordinary fashion footwear and bags are not.

Hollow glass bottles over 150ml, for packing drinks Banned Codes: 7010.9021.29, 7010.9031.00 Aimed at bottles used by breweries and drink companies.

Used compressors, air conditioners, fridges and freezers Banned in some forms Codes: 8414.3000, 8415.1000.11 to 8415.9000.99, 8418.1000.11 to 8418.6900.00 Used units only. New units are importable.

Used motor vehicles more than 12 years old Banned in some forms Codes: 8703.10.0000 to 8703.90.0000 The customs list says more than 12 years from the year of manufacture. Newer cars and new cars are not banned by this entry. Some news reports have mentioned other age limits, so confirm the limit on the day you buy. Check the current position before buying

Ballpoint pens and refills Banned Codes: 9608.10.0000 Tips are excluded.

Tomato paste and concentrate for retail sale Banned in some forms Codes: 2002.1000.00, 2002.9020.00, 2002.9090.00 Retail packs only. Bulk concentrate for local repacking has been treated differently.

On older lists, but not on the current customs page

You may still hear that these are banned. They are not on the current official list, so the tools here only warn you to check, and never say banned.

FurnitureAppeared on earlier prohibition lists and is marked in the tariff schedule, but is not on the current customs page. Confirm before you buy.
Plastic sanitary wares and household plasticsAppeared on earlier lists. Not on the current customs page. Confirm before you buy.
Tomato ketchup and similar saucesAppeared on earlier lists. Not on the current customs page. Confirm before you buy.
Used clothingMarked in the tariff schedule as prohibited, but not on the current customs page. Confirm before you buy.

The full export prohibition list

As published by the Nigeria Customs Service on its Export Prohibition List page. Last checked 10 October 2026. The official page shows no effective date.

Most goods may leave Nigeria. The ones below may not, mostly to keep raw materials at home for local industry, or to protect wildlife and heritage. Only the hides line has product codes on the customs page.

Maize Export banned

Timber, rough or sawn Export banned Processed wood products are a different position, so check the exact description.

Raw hides and skin, including wet blue and all unfinished leather Export banned Codes: 4101.2000.00 to 4108.9200.00

Scrap metals Export banned

Unprocessed rubber latex and rubber lumps Export banned

Artifacts and antiquities Export banned Protected cultural property. Moving it out of the country without authority is a serious offence.

Endangered wildlife and their products Export banned The customs page names crocodile, elephant, lizard, eagle, monkey, zebra and lion as examples.

Goods imported can be re-exported Export banned This line appears under the prohibited exports on the customs page, but its wording reads like a permission rather than a ban. Ask customs what it means before you rely on it either way. Wording unclear on the customs page, ask customs

Banned everywhere, for a different reason

These are not trade policy. They are prohibited because they are dangerous, illegal or offensive, and they carry consequences well beyond a customs bill.

Narcotic drugs and controlled substancesHandled by the drug law enforcement agency, not just customs.
Counterfeit money, and counterfeit or pirated goodsIncluding fake currency, fake bank notes and goods bearing false trade marks.
Weapons, ammunition and military equipment without authorityRequires clearance from the national security adviser's office and the relevant authorities.
Indecent or obscene material
Hazardous and toxic wasteControlled by the environment regulator, and heavily enforced.
Goods that are unsafe or falsely describedIncluding expired goods and products deliberately mislabelled.

Allowed, but only with permission first

This is where most shipments actually go wrong. Not banned, just not permitted yet, and the permission has to exist before the goods move.

Before shipment Food, drink, medicine, cosmetics and medical devices

NAFDAC

The product itself has to be registered, not just your company, and registration takes months. Then each shipment needs its own permit before it ships.

Before shipment Manufactured and engineered products

SON, the standards body

A SONCAP certificate, issued in the exporting country after testing. SON states plainly that this is an offshore scheme and cannot be done once the goods have left.

Before shipment Plants, animals, timber and farm produce

Agricultural quarantine

A phytosanitary or veterinary certificate from the authority in the exporting country. Wooden packaging and pallets often need a fumigation certificate too.

Before shipment Telecommunications and radio equipment

The communications commission

Type approval for the equipment, and a permit for the shipment.

Before shipment Chemicals and anything that could be misused

Security and environment agencies

An end user certificate and security clearance. These take the longest of anything on this page and cannot be rushed.

Before shipment Radioactive sources and equipment containing them

The nuclear regulatory authority

A licence for the source and for the person handling it. Specialised, slow, and not negotiable.

Before shipment Firearms, ammunition and security equipment

Police and national security

End user certificate and specific authority. Treat any enquiry here as needing legal advice before you commit.

Before shipment Anything at all, in commercial quantity

Your bank and customs

A Form M registered through your bank before the goods ship, and a PAAR issued by customs. No Form M means no legal import, whatever the product is.

Read that column again. Every single one says before shipment. That is not a coincidence and it is the most important fact on this page: the permits that stop shipments are almost all issued in the exporting country, by somebody who will not help you once the goods have left.

Tap a heading to read it.

Why things get banned

Almost every item on the prohibition list is something Nigeria makes, or wants to make. Cement, sugar, tomato paste, textiles, footwear, pens. The ban is industrial policy: make importing unattractive so local production has room to grow.

You can agree or disagree with that as economics. What matters commercially is that it is policy, which means it moves. Items come off the list and go back on, and the change is announced in a budget or a circular rather than sent to you personally.

What "banned" actually means at the port

It does not mean a fine and release. Prohibited goods can be seized, and the importer can be prosecuted. There is no permit, no waiver desk and no clever agent for a genuine prohibition, and anybody offering you one is describing something you should not be part of.

The used-vehicle age limit is the clearest example of why this page exists. It has moved more than once, sources currently disagree about where it stands, and people buy cars abroad on the strength of what was true two years ago.

The three checks before you pay anybody

One: is it on the prohibition list? Two minutes. If it is, stop, and stop before you have paid a deposit rather than after.

Two: which agency regulates it, and when is the certificate issued? If the answer is "in the exporting country, before loading", that becomes the first item on your plan, not the last. Getting a standards certificate is easy while the goods are still in a factory in China. It is impossible once they are on a ship.

Three: get the product code and confirm against the tariff. Prohibition attaches to codes, not to descriptions, and the same word can cover a banned line and a permitted one.

The question to ask your supplier

Not "can you ship to Nigeria", because they will say yes. Ask: "Which certificates can you obtain in your country for this product, and how long do they take?" A supplier who has exported to Nigeria before will answer immediately. A supplier who has not will go quiet, and that silence is worth knowing about before you pay.

This is a guide, not a ruling, and the lists change. Prohibition and permit rules are set by government policy and revised without much notice. Nothing here is legal advice. Confirm the current position with the Nigeria Customs Service, the relevant agency, or a licensed customs agent before you commit any money.

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