Customs Clearing Procedure in Nigeria Ocean Port | Container Clearing, Documentation & Agencies Requirement

Having obtained your final shipping documents, including PAAR from your authorized dealer bank, the importer is expected to hand over all shipping documents and PAAR to the clearing agent whom among his (clearing agent) obligations shall be to carry out standard import clearance through Nigerian Customs Service at the seaport or from other customs bonded warehouses as stated below:

1. Clearing agent captures Single Goods Declaration (SGD) form using Direct Trade Input (DTI) from his own computer or a DTI Café.

2. The clearing agent will self-assess the SGD form obtained from a DTI Café and print out the assessment notice

3. After the assessment has been done, an electronic message is transmitted to the relevant commercial bank specifying the amount to be paid as customs duties.

4. Clearing agent then proceeds to the bank to pay the exact amount specified on the assessment notice and do other customs documentations.

5. Upon the completion of customs clearing formalities, the Importer/clearing agent will request for the release of his consignment from his own computer system or a DTI Café.

6. The Clearing agent then presents his SGD form to the Customs Processing Center (CPC) at relevant customs area command for custom control and release of consignment.

Get cost of customs clearing of 20ft, 40ft Container in Nigeria (Apapa/Tincan Island) Seaports. Email us your Profoma Invoice / Packing-list info@valuehandlers.com

Read Related Post “How to Process PAAR in Nigeria” .

Releasing/Endorsing Through Other Government Agencies.

This is the most tasking, technical areas in the clearing process;

(a) Examination booking and examination proper
(b) Signing and securing release stamps and signatures from different customs units e.g, CIU, Enforcement, Customs Gate control etc.
(c) Signing of examination form by government agencies at the port; e.g Police, SSS, Anti-drugs, Anti-Bomb, Nafdac/SON, Quarantine and others.

NOTE:Tax Identification Number (TIN) of consignee (company name OR personal name) is needed to take any step, including the very first step. PAAR can be generated within 24 hours if there are no issues from the importer, shipper, commercial bank, Nigeria Customs Service, etc.

NOTE: Consignee/receiver can handle PAAR processing or assign a freight broker to help with the proces. Contact Valuehandlers international to efficiently process Form M/PAAR on 08032241768, Email: info@valuehandlers.com or or

Standard Import Clearance Process in Nigerian Seaports- General/Ordinary Clearance;

Apart from getting your cargo cleared through Nigeria Customs, there are other port operators including handlers and other government agencies. Checklist of Government agencies in the Nigerian ports.

Handlers in Nigeria Sea port includes;

1. Terminal Operators- They also have their charges/fees. The charges from these operators vary and depend on equipment used in handling your shipment and numbers of days your shipment takes to scale through customs clearance.

2. Shipping Company- Another major stakeholder in Nigerian seaport. They have their charges too and the fee will depend on the shipping company who transported your cargo from the origin to Nigeria. There are multinational and Indigenous shipping companies operating in Nigeria.

NOTE: Charges from the mentioned operators above are to be charged to the consignee accounts. You can get the final debit notes from these operators through the assistance of your employed broker/agent.

Issuance and Payment of Debit Notes by Handler and Port operator:

1. Clearing vendor/agent will obtain shipping charges (invoice or debit note) from the liner agent, also known as a shipping company that conveys your cargo from the country of origin. The debit notes are obtained by presenting Bill of Lading. Examples of these companies; Zim line, known in Nigeria as Lagos & Niger Shipping Line, Maersk Line, MSC, Comet, UASC, Grimaldi Lines etc.

2. In like manner, the clearing vendor will also proceed to the terminal operator's office to obtain a debit note or terminal charges. Terminal operators came into being during former President Obasanjo's privatization regime. Among their responsibilities; to secure the container and provide handling equipment required to shift, move, load and position containers for customs examination or scanning process within the seaport.

3. Both terminal and shipping companies debit notes must be paid in their designated banks.

4. Note in some certain terminals, the terminal charges must be paid before examination could take place.

5. Once payment is made to shipping company and cargo is released by the shipping company, Delivery Order (DO) will be issued

This is where all the documents are compiled (shipping company D.O, and other supporting papers, plus customs release documents, all these documents will be required by the terminal operator for Exit note and Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) is issued by the terminal operator and cargo is released ready for truck out to the Final Gate.

Final Clearing step: The truck proceeds to the final gate and waits for another round of documentation by the customs, e.g. confirmation of duty payment, endorsement and multiple registrations of documents. Finally, the truck which conveys the container (s) should be on the way out of the seaport.

Valuehandlers International is your reliable clearing partner, efficiently clearing container in Tincan/Apapa in 3 to 4 days

Note:Please always contact us for prevailing freight rates

FINAL NOTE:Certain cargoes do not require Form M e.g, personal effects & vehicles less than 15yrs of age.

About Valuehandlers: Valuehandlers is a professional Freight forwarder specializes in Air & Sea shipping, Customs clearing and cargo delivery from and to Nigeria for Packages, Item, Equipment, Machines, Raw materials, Dangerous goods, Personal effects, trucks and Cars. Call 08032241768 for Form M and PAAR Processing in Nigeria