UK to Nigeria Cargo FAQs: 34 Questions Answered in 2026
Prices, transit times, door to door, customs and duty, packing, prohibited items, insurance, cars and tracking. Every common question about shipping cargo from the UK to Nigeria, answered by a team that has done it since 2012.
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Money
Prices and Payment
How much does it cost to send cargo from the UK to Nigeria?
Sea freight starts from £3/kg, air freight from £5/kg and door to door from £6/kg, all inclusive of documentation, transit, Nigeria customs clearance and delivery. A 20kg box is roughly £60 to £90 by sea or £100 to £160 by air.
What is the cheapest way to send cargo to Nigeria?
Sea freight from £3/kg, especially for large or heavy loads. The saving over air grows with weight: a 100kg shipment is about £300 to £450 by sea versus £500 to £700 by air. The trade off is time, 4 to 6 weeks by sea versus 5 to 10 working days by air.
Are there any hidden fees?
No. R-Zone quotes are all inclusive of UK documentation, transit, Nigeria customs clearance and delivery, with no fuel surcharges or arrival surprises. Import duty is a separate government charge and we tell you about it upfront.
How is my cargo priced, by weight or size?
You pay for actual weight or volumetric weight, whichever is greater. Air uses length x width x height in cm divided by 6,000; sea uses a divisor of 1,000. This is why packing densely saves real money, particularly on sea freight.
Do I pay before or after shipping?
Payment is arranged when you book, and your quote is confirmed in writing first. Ask us about the current payment options when you request your quote.
Speed
Transit Times
How long does cargo take to reach Nigeria?
Air freight takes 5 to 10 working days and sea freight takes 4 to 6 weeks, each including UK handling, transit to Lagos, Nigeria customs clearance and final delivery.
What is the fastest way to ship to Nigeria?
Express air freight, arriving in 5 to 10 working days from £5/kg. It suits urgent, high-value or time-sensitive cargo such as electronics, documents and medicine.
How often do you ship?
R-Zone runs weekly air and sea departures, so your cargo joins the next available service rather than waiting for a full load.
What can delay my shipment?
The flight or sailing schedule, port and customs conditions in Lagos, seasonal peaks such as Christmas, and incomplete paperwork. An accurate contents list is the simplest way to avoid customs hold-ups.
When should I ship for Christmas?
Send sea freight by early November and air freight by mid-December. Demand and timelines both tighten as December approaches, so booking early is the safest way to arrive on time.
Convenience
Door to Door
What does door to door mean?
We collect from your UK address and deliver to the recipient's door in Nigeria, handling export paperwork, transit and customs clearance in between. No depot visits at either end.
Do you collect from my house in the UK?
Yes, from any UK address, home or business, nationwide, on a day that suits you.
Which parts of Nigeria do you deliver to?
Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Benin City, Kano and every state. Delivery to the main cities is included in the quote; remote destinations may carry a small onward-delivery charge confirmed upfront.
Is door to door worth the extra cost?
For most senders, yes. The premium over drop-off is typically only about £20 to £30 on a 20kg box, and it removes both the UK depot run and the recipient having to travel and collect in Nigeria.
Compliance
Customs and Duty
Do you handle Nigerian customs clearance?
Yes. Every price includes clearance through Nigeria Customs Service, plus NAFDAC and SON where applicable, handled by our own team in Lagos.
Will I have to pay import duty?
Import duty is a separate government charge based on the CIF value. Most personal-use household goods attract little or none. Commercial goods are dutiable under the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, plus 7.5 percent VAT.
What is NAFDAC and does it affect me?
NAFDAC regulates food, drugs, cosmetics and similar products in Nigeria. If you are sending packaged food, supplements or cosmetics, tell us and we will confirm what clearance is needed before you ship.
What paperwork do I need?
A clear contents list for each box is essential. Commercial shipments also need a commercial invoice and packing list, and formal imports use a Form M and PAAR, which we guide you through.
Preparation
Packing and Prohibited Items
How should I pack my cargo?
Use strong double-walled boxes, fill empty space so nothing shifts, pack densely, vacuum-pack clothing to save volume, wrap fragile items individually, and label each box with a contents list.
What can I send to Nigeria?
Clothing and shoes, electronics and phones, household goods and appliances, packaged and non-perishable food, cosmetics, baby items, car parts, books and documents, and commercial merchandise.
What cannot be shipped?
Weapons, drugs, counterfeit goods and certain restricted foodstuffs cannot be shipped. Batteries, aerosols and liquids have specific air rules. If you are unsure about an item, ask us before you pack it.
Can you pack for me?
Ask about assisted packing at collection. Good packing protects your goods and lowers your bill, because you are not paying to ship empty space.
Protection
Insurance
Is my cargo insured automatically?
No. Freight and insurance are separate. A carrier's liability is capped very low by international convention, so we always ask whether you want transit cover added to your booking.
How much should I insure my goods for?
The market standard is CIF plus 10 percent: the cost of the goods, plus insurance and freight, plus a 10 percent margin. Under-declaring to save premium is the most expensive mistake you can make.
What does cargo insurance cost?
The premium is a small percentage of the value you declare, confirmed on your quote before you pay.
What if my goods arrive damaged?
Note the damage on the delivery receipt before signing, keep the packaging, photograph everything and tell us straight away. We help you gather the documents and file the claim.
Vehicles
Car Shipping
Can I ship a car to Nigeria?
Yes, by RORO from around £960 for a saloon, £1,280 for a 4x4 or SUV, or from £1,800 in a shared container. Transit is 4 to 6 weeks by RORO and 5 to 7 weeks by container.
Is there an age limit for importing cars?
Yes. Nigeria does not allow the import of cars older than 15 years from their year of manufacture, so in 2026 that generally means cars made in 2011 or earlier cannot be imported.
Do I need an MOT to ship my car?
Yes. All vehicles shipped to Nigeria must now have a valid roadworthiness certificate, which for a UK car means a current MOT, at the point of shipment. We cannot load a car without one.
How much is duty on a car?
Nigeria customs duty on a used car is typically around 35 percent of the assessed value once duty and levy are combined, plus port and clearing charges, paid on arrival. We confirm the figure before your car sails.
Getting started
Booking and Tracking
How do I get a quote?
Tell us what you are sending, the approximate weight, and your UK and Nigeria locations. Call +44 (0) 800 772 0864, WhatsApp +44 7915 647 119, or use the online quote form. We respond the same day.
Can I track my shipment?
Yes. Use the tracking page on our site, or call or WhatsApp us at any point for a status update. Because we run our own Lagos team, we can tell you exactly where your cargo is.
How do I know R-Zone is legitimate?
R-Zone has shipped the UK to Nigeria corridor since 2012, with 50,000+ shipments delivered and 120+ five star Google reviews, a real UK address and landline, and our own clearing team in Lagos.
Do you ship commercial and bulk loads?
Yes. We handle LCL part loads from £3/kg and full 20ft and 40ft containers on application, including commercial customs clearance, Form M and PAAR guidance.
- 120+
- Five star Google reviews
- 12+
- Years of experience
- 50,000+
- Shipments delivered
- Weekly
- Air and sea departures
Still have a question?
Ask us anything, we answer the same day
Sea from £3/kg, air from £5/kg, door to door from £6/kg. Call, WhatsApp or use the quote form and a real person from our team will answer, usually within hours.