Freight to Nigeria from the UK
Nigeria is our busiest African trade lane and has been since the 1980s. We ship air and sea freight to Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano every week from our base near Heathrow. We know Apapa port congestion patterns, SONCAP requirements and Nigerian customs procedures from decades of hands-on experience -- not from a textbook.
Air Transit
1-3 days
Heathrow to Lagos
Sea Transit
21-28 days
UK to Apapa
Departures
Weekly
Air & sea consolidations
Serving Nigeria
40+ years
Since the 1980s
Our Services
How We Ship to Nigeria
Air Freight
Direct flights from Heathrow to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Lagos) and Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (Abuja). We book cargo space with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Ethiopian Airlines and other carriers operating this route daily.
- 1-3 day transit to Lagos
- Express next-flight-out available
- Weekly consolidations for better rates
- Abuja via Lagos or Addis Ababa connections
Sea Freight
FCL and LCL services from Felixstowe, Southampton and Tilbury to Apapa Port and Tin Can Island, Lagos. Direct sailings take 21-28 days. We also ship to Onne Port (Rivers State) for cargo heading to the Niger Delta and eastern Nigeria.
- 20ft and 40ft FCL containers
- LCL consolidation to Apapa weekly
- RoRo for vehicles
- Port congestion monitoring and advice
Inland Delivery
Our agents in Lagos arrange onward trucking to Abuja, Kano, Ibadan, Kaduna, Enugu and other Nigerian cities. We also coordinate delivery to bonded warehouses and free trade zones. Door-to-door from the UK to anywhere in Nigeria.
- Trucking from Lagos to all states
- Abuja delivery in 2-3 days from port
- Bonded warehouse storage available
- GPS-tracked vehicles on major routes
Compliance
Customs & Documentation for Nigeria
Nigerian imports are regulated by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) through the SONCAP programme. Most manufactured goods require a SONCAP Product Certificate before they can clear customs. Getting this wrong means your cargo sits at the port racking up demurrage charges.
We handle the full SONCAP process: product registration, testing coordination with accredited labs, certificate issuance and submission to Nigerian customs. We also manage NXP (Nigerian Export Proceeds) forms, Form M for imports, PAAR (Pre-Arrival Assessment Report) registration and NAFDAC certification for food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Our Lagos agents have direct relationships with Nigerian Customs Service officers at Apapa and Tin Can Island. When issues arise -- and at Lagos ports they do -- we resolve them quickly.
Key Documentation
SONCAP Certificate
Required for regulated manufactured goods
Form M
Import declaration for goods over USD 50,000
PAAR
Pre-Arrival Assessment Report via Nigeria Customs
Commercial Invoice & Packing List
Standard for all shipments
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Transport document for sea or air
Certificate of Origin
Required for preferential duty treatment
NAFDAC Registration
For food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices
SON Product Certificate
For electronics, building materials, auto parts
What We Ship
Common Cargo Types to Nigeria
Personal Effects & Relocations
Household goods, vehicles and personal belongings for Nigerians moving home or UK expats relocating to Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt.
Industrial & Oil Field Equipment
Heavy machinery, spare parts and project cargo for Nigeria's oil and gas sector. We handle oversized loads to Port Harcourt and the Niger Delta.
Consumer Goods & FMCG
Electronics, textiles, cosmetics and packaged foods. We consolidate smaller shipments to Lagos weekly, keeping per-kilo costs down.
Vehicles & Auto Parts
Cars, trucks, spare parts and tyres. We handle RoRo and containerised vehicle shipping to Lagos. SON certification for auto parts managed in-house.
Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
Temperature-controlled shipments of medical supplies, lab equipment and pharmaceuticals. NAFDAC documentation support for regulated goods.
Construction Materials
Steel, cement additives, roofing, tiles and building supplies feeding Nigeria's construction boom. FCL services to Apapa and Tin Can Island.
Lagos Port Congestion: What You Need to Know
Apapa and Tin Can Island are among the busiest ports in West Africa and congestion is a recurring challenge. Delays of 1-3 weeks on top of standard transit times are not uncommon during peak periods. We monitor congestion levels weekly and advise on timing. Where possible, we route via less congested terminals or recommend air freight for time-sensitive cargo. We also use inland container depots to clear containers faster and avoid accumulating demurrage. If you are shipping to Nigeria for the first time, talk to us before booking -- we will give you a realistic delivery window.
FAQ
Nigeria Freight FAQs
How long does shipping to Nigeria take?
Air freight from Heathrow to Lagos takes 1-3 days depending on whether you choose express or standard consolidation. Sea freight from the UK to Apapa or Tin Can Island takes 21-28 days for direct sailings. Add 3-7 days for customs clearance in Lagos depending on documentation completeness and port congestion. We provide realistic timelines based on current conditions, not best-case scenarios.
What documents do I need to ship to Nigeria?
At minimum you need a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, and a SONCAP certificate (Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme) for regulated products. Some goods also require a SON Product Certificate, NAFDAC registration for food and pharmaceuticals, or a Form M from the importer's bank for goods above USD 50,000. We prepare all export documentation and guide your Nigerian consignee through the import side.
How much does freight to Lagos cost?
Air freight to Lagos starts from around GBP 3-5 per kilo for consolidated shipments. Express next-flight-out is more expensive. Sea freight for a 20ft container from UK to Apapa starts from approximately GBP 1,800-2,500 depending on the carrier and season. LCL sea freight starts from roughly GBP 80-120 per cubic metre. These are guide prices -- we quote exact rates based on your specific cargo details, weight and volume.
Can you ship dangerous goods to Nigeria?
Yes. KAM Freight is IATA DG certified and handles all nine classes of dangerous goods by air and sea. We manage classification, packaging, labelling and documentation. Common DG shipments to Nigeria include lithium batteries, chemicals for the oil industry, paints, adhesives and aerosols. Some items face additional restrictions at Nigerian ports, so we check compliance before booking.
Do you handle customs clearance in Nigeria?
Yes. Our clearing agents in Lagos handle customs clearance at Apapa, Tin Can Island and Murtala Muhammed Airport. We prepare all documentation to Nigerian Customs Service requirements, manage SONCAP certification, handle duty payments through your appointed customs broker and coordinate inland delivery to your final destination. We also clear cargo at Port Harcourt, Abuja and other Nigerian entry points.
Ready to ship to Nigeria?
Get a quote for air or sea freight to Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt or anywhere in Nigeria. We typically respond within two hours.