UK ⇆ Nigeria Shipping Rates 2025

UK ⇆ Nigeria
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DFS Worldwide is a UK-based shipping company specializing in air and sea freight services to various destinations in Africa, with a particular focus on Nigeria. Our deep understanding of the African market, combined with our commitment to reliability and efficiency, makes us the go-to partner for businesses looking to ship goods to this vibrant and growing region.

Air Freight to Lagos, Nigeria

London Heathrow (LHR) to Lagos airport

• 100kgs: £170
• 200kgs: £280
• 500kgs: £542

• Delivery of cargo can vary from 3 - 7 working days
• London Heathrow Airport to Cebu, Manila or Lagos airport
• Rates above exclude collection, screening, handling, export declaration, documentation.
• Please contact us for the latest air freight rates to Nigeria

Sea Freight to Nigeria

Seaport in Lagos Nigeria

LCL Southampton to Tin Can Island port

• 1 Cbm:  £153
• 5 Cbm:  £500

FCL Southampton to Tin Can Island port

• 20ft container: £950
• 40ft container: £1310

*** Prices shown on this page are for indication purposes only.

Why Choose DFS Worldwide for Shipping to Nigeria?

DFS Worldwide offers distinct advantages for businesses shipping to Nigeria:

• Specialized Expertise: With a focus on African markets, DFS Worldwide brings specialized knowledge and experience to navigate the unique logistics challenges associated with shipping to Nigeria.

• Competitive Rates: We provide cost-effective shipping solutions, balancing quality and affordability to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes.

• Reliable Service: Our robust infrastructure and strategic partnerships ensure timely and secure delivery of goods, making us a trusted choice for international shipping.

Key Features

1. Versatile Shipping Options: Whether you require the speed of air freight to Nigeria for urgent shipments or the cost-efficiency of sea freight for bulk goods, DFS Worldwide offers a range of options tailored to your needs.

2. Expert Customs Handling: Shipping to Nigeria involves navigating complex customs regulations. Our experienced team ensures all documentation and compliance requirements are met, facilitating smooth clearance processes.

3. Advanced Tracking: We offer state-of-the-art tracking systems, providing real-time updates on your shipment's status and ensuring complete transparency throughout the shipping process.

4. Custom Solutions: We provide bespoke logistics solutions, including handling specialized cargo, offering door-to-door delivery, and additional services like insurance and warehousing, to meet specific customer requirements.

Benefits

• Strategic Market Access: Nigeria is a key economic hub in Africa, making it a strategic destination for businesses looking to expand their footprint on the continent.

• Flexible and Scalable Solutions: Our services are designed to scale with your business needs, whether you're shipping small consignments or large volumes.

• Reliable Network: Our established network in Nigeria ensures that your shipments are handled with the utmost care, reducing the risk of delays and ensuring efficient delivery.

Exporting to Nigeria

Overview

Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy, biggest oil producer and largest population, projected to be the worlds 3rd largest by 2050. The current population of Nigeria is 188,116,800. 48.1 % of the population is urban, with a median age of 18 years. 40% of the population is 25 or under. Lagos state is the 5th largest economy in Africa. Nigeria has large deposits of natural resources such as; iron ore, tin, columbite, coal, niobium, lead, zinc, bauxite and of course oil and gas.

The GDP in Nigeria shrank by 2.1 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2016, compared to a 0.36 percent drop in the previous period and worse than market consensus of a 1.5 percent decline. It is the first contraction in 20 years due to a decline in oil prices.

A large number of British companies operate in Nigeria, including household names such as Shell, Diageo, Virgin Atlantic, GSK, Standard Chartered, HSBC, Barclays, PZ Cussons, Cadburys and Unilever. There are also a lot of small and medium sized British companies.

Incentives for British businesses exporting to Nigeria include:

• Similar business and legal practices
• Common language and similar culture
• Investment incentives such as free trade zones and tax holidays
• Large consumer base with a growing middle class
• Young and educated population
• Biggest beneficiary of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa
• Abundant natural resources
• Many Public and Private Partnerships (PPPs) in developing infrastructure

Challenges

There are many opportunities for companies looking to do business in Nigeria. There are some challenges to be aware of. These include:

• Poor power supply nation wide
• Lack of infrastructure across many sectors
• Some security challenges
• The government can be bureaucratic in awarding and paying for contracts
• Currently slow payment in general due to lack of $
• High level of corruption
• Lack of training
• High unemployment and poverty

Current benefits and growth potential

Economic growth

The Nigerian economy is facing substantial challenges. While the non-oil sector accounts for 90 % of GDP, the oil sector plays a central role in the economy. Lower oil prices have significantly affected the fiscal and external accounts, decimating government revenues to just 7.8 % of GDP and resulting in the doubling of the general government deficit to about

% of GDP in 2015. Exports dropped around 40 % in 2015, pushing the current account from a surplus of 0.2 % of GDP to a deficit projected at 2.4 % of GDP. With foreign portfolio inflows slowing significantly, reserves fell to $28.3 billion at end 2015.

The fastest growing sectors in Nigeria are:

• Infrastructure
• Power
• Agriculture
• Education & Training

Trade between UK and Nigeria

The UK is one of the largest foreign investors in Nigeria.

• 2014 trade figures comprised: Exports: $2.3 bn;
• Imports: $4.0bn;
• Bilateral trade: $6.3bn. However 2015 bilateral trade fell substantially; Exports: $1.6bn
• Imports: $2.2bn Bilateral trade: $3.8bn

Top 10 UK exports

• Petroleum, petroleum products & related materials
• Power generating machinery & equipment
• Transport equipment
• Road vehicles
• General industry machinery, equipment & office machines
• Essential oils & perfume materials; toilet preps etc
• Medicinal & Pharmaceutical products
• Textile yarn & fabrics
• Vegetable & Fruits
• Beverages

Opportunities for UK businesses in Nigeria

Infrastructure

Nigeria’s infrastructure spending has significantly increased recently and has one of the most promising pipelines in Africa. The government is looking to use both public and private partnership mechanisms to drive forward their ambitious plans. With a rapidly growing population and expected growth rates of at least 7% over the next two years, the need to develop infrastructure is paramount in the diversification drive. The Nigerian 2016 budget has allocated over $1.5bn for works, power and housing projects and over $700m on transport infrastructure.

The budget will be used to:

• Create new housing
• Improve public services
• Develop the tourist sector
• Improve transport links Opportunities for UK companies include:
• Import and distribution of materials and equipment
• Hospitality and recreation real estate
• Warehousing, haulage and logistics
• Mass housing and road construction
• Manpower development and training in the rail subsector
• Services for loading and offloading goods

Nigeria requires project developers with the experience and knowledge required to develop commercially viable infrastructure projects.

Offshore Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)

Nigeria has the ninth largest gas reserves in the world and the largest in Africa.

Domestic and industrial consumption of gas in Nigeria is below 20%. Because of this, there is a lot of excess gas that needs to be burnt off for safety reasons (gas flaring). The reason for such a low use of gas is mainly due to poor distribution, storage infrastructure and a flawed pricing system.

The government has allocated $450 million, out of the $1 billion raised in July 2013, for gas infrastructure. It has set aside an additional $8 billion for improvements in the sector.

Opportunities exist for:

• Gas gathering
• Construction
• Operating and securing processing facilities and pipelines

Agriculture

Nigeria has over 80 million hectares of arable land and agriculture contributes over 42% of Nigeria’s GDP. The growth potential, in what has been a neglected sector up until now, is enormous and growing.

Recently, the agriculture sector has received attention from local and global investors who have realised the potential of the market. Many state governments have entered into partnerships with private sector companies.

The opportunities for UK companies in this sector include:

• Equipment supply
• Education and training
• Food processing and manufacture
• Haulage, storage and waste recycling
• Poultry and fish farming
• Commercial mechanized Farms

Education and training

With Nigeria’s growing young population, the demand for education services is increasing faster than the government can supply it. The government is keen to ensure that businesses provide corporate training.

Opportunities for UK companies include:

• Setting up and running universities and training centres
• Corporate training
• Supply of equipment and resources
• Distance learning products
• Collaborations with UK Universities
• Behavioural and social training (soft skills)

Power

The Nigerian government recently privatised some of the power sector, which has encouraged investment.

The power sector is split into three subsectors:

• Generating companies (GENCOs)
• Distributing companies (DISCOs)

Nigeria is in need of additional investment in all these subsectors, but there is particular interest in transmission infrastructure. Without improvements, the current network will not be able to cope with the demands of increased generation. The required investment is estimated to be between $2.6 and $5 billion.

Other opportunities include:

• Capital Expenditure for recently Privatised PHCN Assets
• Equity Investment in NIPP Projects and PHCN Privatised Assets
• Embedded Generation and Independent Electricity Distribution Networks

Legal Considerations

There are a number of laws & regulatory bodies that specialise in different areas. The most important are:

Nigerian Content Law in Oil & Gas Industry regulates and coordinates Local content in all Oil and Gas operations in Nigeria http://www.ncdmb.gov.ng/

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC): This agency regulates and controls the importation, exportation, manufacturing,

The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) is charged with overall responsibility for monitoring, supervising and co-ordinating Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Certificate of Capital Importation (CCI)

If you want to transfer funds into Nigeria, you will need to obtain a CCI from a Nigerian bank. This provides statutory evidence of an investment into a Nigerian company.

Intellectual property

Registration of Patents and trademarks are the responsibility of the Trademark Registry in Abuja. Registration gives you exclusive use of the trademark or patent for seven years, this may then be renewed. Patents expire after twenty years

Tax and Customs Considerations

Tax Registration

As a company incorporated in Nigeria, you are required to be registered with the relevant tax authorities for tax purposes.

Principal Taxes

Companies Income Tax: A tax chargeable on all companies (other than Companies engaged in petroleum operations as defined under the PPTA) registered in Nigeria. The rate is 30% of its taxable income.

Personal Income Tax: A tax payable by all individuals and registered businesses and partnerships except those registered under Part A of Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. Its rate is between 7% & 24%

Education Tax: A tax chargeable on all companies registered in Nigeria at 2% of chargeable profits as contribution to the Education Tax Fund.

Withholding Tax: It is an advance payment of tax (at between 5% -10%) to which individuals and organizations are entitled to demand a withholding tax credit note.

Value Added Tax: A tax payable by the consumer at 5% of the net value added based on eligible transactions once consumed. All registered businesses are expected to

register and have a VAT registration certificate, and boldly display their VAT registration number on all invoices.

Import Restrictions

Export of Antiquities: No art treasure may be taken out of the country without written approval from the appropriate Nigerian authorities. This approval must come from the Department of Antiquities, National Museum, Lagos, or Jos. The law prohibiting the export of all forms of antiquity, including all ritual art objects even of contemporary make, is strictly enforced