How to Import Goods from China to Nigeria (2026): Steps, Documents and Landed Cost
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How to import goods from China to Nigeria in 2026
Importing from China into Nigeria is not hard, but it is unforgiving. Miss the Form M and your bank can’t pay the supplier; skip SONCAP on a regulated product and your container sits at Apapa running up demurrage; trust the wrong WeChat seller and the goods never ship. This is the order we do things in for our own clients, with the documents and the real costs at each step.
At a glance
- Sea freight
- 35–38 days FCL, 36–42 days LCL, China to Lagos port
- Air freight
- About 5–13 days
- Key documents
- Form M, PAAR, SONCAP (regulated goods), invoice, packing list, bill of lading
- Duty
- By HS code under the ECOWAS tariff bands (0, 5, 10, 20 or 35%) plus levies
- Biggest risks
- Paying unverified suppliers; shipping regulated goods without SONCAP
The 9 steps, in order
A registered business (CAC) and tax ID (TIN) make the bank, Customs and SON steps much easier.
Look it up on Nigeria’s import prohibition list and check whether it needs SONCAP (SON) or NAFDAC registration.
Ask for the business licence, an export record and a video call from the factory. Our China team can check for you.
It must show the product, HS code, quantity, unit price, Incoterm (FOB or CIF) and the supplier’s bank details.
Your bank registers the Form M on the Nigeria Customs B’Odogwu platform. You need it before paying the supplier through official channels.
Usually a deposit, then the balance after inspection. Keep every payment receipt for Customs.
For regulated goods, get the SONCAP certificate before shipping, and inspect the goods against your sample.
Sea or air. The PAAR (Pre-Arrival Assessment Report) is raised from your Form M and the shipping documents.
Pay duty, terminal and shipping line charges, pass examination, then truck the goods to your warehouse.
Documents checklist
| Document | Who issues it | When |
|---|---|---|
| Proforma invoice | Supplier | Before Form M |
| Form M | Your bank, on B’Odogwu | Before payment and shipping |
| SONCAP certificate | SON-accredited agent (regulated products) | Before shipping |
| Commercial invoice & packing list | Supplier | At shipping |
| Bill of lading or air waybill | Shipping line or airline | At shipping |
| PAAR | Nigeria Customs | Before the goods arrive |
| NAFDAC registration | NAFDAC (food, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals) | Before import |
What it really costs
The price on Alibaba is only the start. Your real cost per unit adds freight, insurance, duty and levies on the CIF value, and clearing, port and delivery charges in Nigeria. Use the estimator to see the full picture before you order.
Landed cost estimator
Work out what one unit really costs you in Lagos. Use your supplier’s quote and the duty rate from our import duty calculator.
An estimate, not a quote. Duty depends on the HS code; port and terminal charges vary. Nothing you type is saved.
Fake suppliers with copied photos, “factory” bank accounts in a different name, and cheap quotes that rise after the deposit. Pay a deposit against a contract, keep the balance until inspection, and check the account name matches the company. Our anti-fraud guide.
Let us handle your China import
Tell us what you are importing. We will check the rules, find or verify the supplier, and quote the shipping and clearing.
Your request opens in WhatsApp or your email app, ready to send. Nothing is stored on this page.
Sources: Nigeria Customs Service statement on Form M migration to B’Odogwu (July 2025); Sino-Shipping, China–Nigeria transit times (October 2026); US Commercial Service, Nigeria prohibited and restricted imports. Rules and levies change; we check them on every shipment.
Questions buyers ask us
Do I need a Form M to import from China?
What is SONCAP?
How long does shipping from China to Lagos take?
How is import duty calculated?
Can I import small quantities?
Which goods can’t I import?
Tools and hubs for importers
Importing from China?
Our China and Lagos teams can source, ship and clear your goods. Tell us what you need.
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