Shipping from Dubai to NigeriaShipping from Dubai to Nigeria, by sea and air.
Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai Airport Free Zone, arranges shipping from Dubai to Nigeria for businesses. We ship FCL and LCL sea freight from Jebel Ali to Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island and Lekki) and Onne, and fly air cargo from DXB to Lagos and Abuja. We prepare export papers and check the Form M, SONCAP and NAFDAC documents your Nigerian importer needs.
Business cargo only. Airlift Logistics ships commercial goods for importers, exporters, traders and manufacturers, with a commercial invoice and a registered consignee. We do not handle personal boxes, household effects or door-to-door parcels.
Dubai to Nigeria at a glance
Nigerian imports start with paperwork in Nigeria: the importer opens a Form M before the goods are shipped from Dubai.
- Flight time
- About 7.5 h DXB to Lagos
- Sea
- Several weeks, often transshipped
- Customs
- Nigeria Customs Service
- Before shipping
- Form M opened
Airports and seaports in Nigeria we ship to
Most container cargo lands in Lagos. Onne suits project and oil and gas cargo for the south-east.
| Gateway | Type | Code | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | LOS | Murtala Muhammed International, the main air cargo gateway | |
| Airport | ABV | Nnamdi Azikiwe International, for the capital | |
| Seaport | Lagos | Lagos's main port complex | |
| Seaport | Lagos | Container terminals next to Apapa | |
| Seaport | Lagos | Newer deep-water port east of Lagos | |
| Seaport | Rivers State | For the south-east and the oil and gas sector |
Air, sea to Nigeria
| Mode | Route | Typical timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea freight FCL | Jebel Ali to Lagos or Onne | Several weeks, often via a hub | Building materials, machinery, stock |
| Sea freight LCL | Jebel Ali consolidation to Lagos | Longer than FCL | Smaller loads |
| DXB to LOS or ABV | About 1 to 3 days, plus clearance | Spare parts, phones, urgent goods |
Airlines flying direct from Dubai to Nigeria
- Emirates SkyCargo
We confirm current sailings, transshipment hubs and air options for each booking. Work out the billed weight with our chargeable weight calculator or the CBM calculator.
Customs in Nigeria: what the importer needs
The Nigerian importer opens a Form M through an authorised bank before shipment, and a licensed agent clears the goods with the Nigeria Customs Service.
| Item | In Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Customs authority | Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) |
| Declaration | Clearance on the Nigeria Customs Service platform, after a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) |
| Importer registration | Form M opened through an authorised dealer bank before shipment |
| Duty and tax | ECOWAS Common External Tariff duty, plus 7.5% VAT and levies on some goods |
| Trade agreement | No UAE-Nigeria trade agreement in force at the time of writing |
Some goods carry extra levies or are on Nigeria's import prohibition list. Check before buying stock.
Approvals to check before booking
Regulated goods need Nigerian certificates arranged before shipment. These are the most common causes of delay in Lagos.
- 01
Every import starts with a Form M opened through a Nigerian bank.
- 02
Regulated products need a SON product certificate and a SONCAP certificate.
- 03
Food, drugs, cosmetics and chemicals need NAFDAC registration or a permit.
- 04
Prohibition list
Nigeria bans import of listed goods by any route.
- 05
Certificate of origin
States where the goods were made.
- 06
The PAAR is issued before cargo arrives, based on the Form M and documents.
Documents for shipping to Nigeria
Send these with your booking. The invoice must match the Form M exactly.
| Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Customs value, origin and HS codes |
| Packing list | Pieces, weights and marks for inspection |
| Transport contract and cargo release | |
| Exit clearance from the UAE, filed by us | |
| Links the shipment to the bank's Form M | |
| Regulated products |
Restricted or banned in Nigeria
- Goods on the import prohibition list
- Regulated goods without SONCAP
- NAFDAC products without a permit
- Counterfeit goods
- Narcotics
The prohibition list changes; check the current list for your HS code.
What UAE businesses ship to Nigeria
Dubai is a major source of goods for Nigerian importers, from building materials to electronics.
- 01
Machinery and spare parts
Generators, machinery and parts.
- 02
Building materials
Tiles, fittings and construction supplies by sea.
- 03
Electronics
Phones and appliances, often by air.
Dubai to Nigeria shipping questions, answered
Last updated ·
See all shipping questionsGet a quote for this laneForm M is Nigeria's mandatory import application. The Nigerian importer opens it through an authorised dealer bank before the goods are shipped from Dubai. It links to the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report and the customs entry. Shipping before the Form M is approved can lead to delays and penalties in Lagos.
- The invoice must match the Form M.
- Ask the buyer for the Form M number.
SONCAP is Nigeria's product conformity programme. Regulated products need a product certificate from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, then a SONCAP certificate for each shipment. Food, drugs and cosmetics are handled by NAFDAC instead. Without the right certificate, customs can hold the goods at the port.
- Arrange it before the goods are loaded.
- Check your HS code is regulated.
It depends on the carrier and the buyer's location. Apapa and Tin Can Island handle most Lagos container traffic, while Lekki Deep Sea Port takes larger vessels. Onne serves the south-east and the oil and gas sector. We choose the port that suits the delivery address and the sailing.
- Port congestion changes often.
- Air cargo goes to Lagos or Abuja.
Imports pay ECOWAS tariff duty and 7.5% VAT. The ECOWAS Common External Tariff sets the duty by HS code. Some goods also carry levies or extra duties, and listed items are banned. The licensed customs agent calculates the total from the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report before the cargo is released.
- Check the prohibition list first.
- Duty is paid before release.