Know Before You Ship

Prohibited & Restricted Items: UK to Nigeria.

Sending a prohibited item in your shipment — even unknowingly — can result in seizure, fines, and weeks of delay. This page covers exactly what cannot be sent, and what needs special handling. Updated for 2026.

Important: Check Before You Pack

Nigeria Customs (NCS) enforces these rules strictly. One prohibited item inside a shared container can hold up the entire consignment. If you are unsure about anything, call Precebol before you pack — our team advises on this daily.

Fully Prohibited Items

These goods are banned from import into Nigeria. They cannot be shipped under any circumstances.

✗ Firearms and Weapons

  • • Firearms, pistols, revolvers, rifles
  • • Imitation firearms
  • • Ammunition, gunpowder, explosive devices
  • • Knives and bladed weapons above UK legal limits

✗ Narcotics and Controlled Drugs

  • • Recreational drugs of any kind
  • • Unprescribed opioids and controlled substances
  • • CBD products not authorised by Nigeria
  • • Any psychotropic substance not approved by Nigerian authorities

✗ Counterfeit Goods

  • • Fake branded clothing, shoes, and accessories
  • • Counterfeit electronics and phones
  • • Counterfeit currency
  • • Fake perfumes and cosmetics

✗ Used Mattresses and Bedding

  • • Used mattresses (any size)
  • • Used duvets and pillows from second-hand sources

✗ Prohibited Food Items

  • • Frozen poultry (chicken, turkey, duck)
  • • Fresh and chilled meat products
  • • Live animals without veterinary certification

✗ Toxic and Hazardous Materials

  • • Industrial chemicals and solvents
  • • Toxic waste of any description
  • • Radioactive materials

✗ Indecent Publications

  • • Pornographic materials
  • • Films or publications deemed obscene under Nigerian law

Restricted Items

These goods can be shipped with the right documentation or conditions. Get it wrong and they will be held at the port.

Medicines and Pharmaceuticals

NAFDAC clearance required

All pharmaceutical products, supplements, and medicines require NAFDAC registration documentation. Personal prescription quantities with a doctor's letter may be handled differently — speak to us before shipping.

Electronics and Electrical Goods

SONCAP certification required for many items

TVs, generators, fridges, cables, transformers, and other electrical goods require SONCAP certification to clear Nigerian customs. Used electricals are harder to certify — check with us before shipping.

Vehicles

12-year age rule (2026)

Vehicles must have been manufactured in 2014 or later for 2026 imports. Older vehicles will not be cleared at the port. All vehicles must be left-hand drive (LHD) — UK right-hand drive vehicles cannot be legally registered in Nigeria.

Plants and Seeds

Phytosanitary certificate required

A phytosanitary certificate from the UK must accompany any plant material or seeds. Without it, goods will be held at the port indefinitely.

Alcohol

Import licence and duty required

Alcohol is not banned but carries significant import duty and requires licensing. Including alcohol in personal cargo without prior authorisation is likely to delay clearance.

Power Banks and Lithium Batteries

Air freight restrictions apply

Lithium batteries are restricted on air freight. Standalone power banks may not be accepted on certain air routes. Contact us before including lithium battery items in an air shipment.

What Happens If Prohibited Items Are Found?

  • ! The prohibited item is seized and destroyed — you will not get it back
  • ! The rest of your shipment may be held while customs investigate, accumulating storage fees
  • ! In serious cases (weapons, drugs), the entire shipment can be seized
  • ! Criminal referral is possible in cases involving weapons, narcotics, or fraud
  • ! One banned item in a shared container can delay other customers' cargo alongside yours

Common Questions

Can I ship food from the UK to Nigeria?

Yes, most dried and packaged food items can be shipped. Frozen poultry (chicken, turkey, duck) is prohibited. Fresh and perishable meat products are also restricted. Dried grains, tinned goods, condiments, and processed foods are generally allowed.

Can I ship medicine from the UK to Nigeria?

Prescription medicines and supplements require NAFDAC registration documentation. Personal quantities of prescription medicine accompanied by a doctor's letter are generally treated differently. Speak to Precebol before including medicines in any shipment.

What happens if prohibited items are found in my shipment?

Nigerian Customs has the authority to seize prohibited items, hold the entire shipment, and in serious cases (weapons, drugs) refer the matter to law enforcement. The practical result is seizure of the item, potential fines, and significant delays to the rest of your cargo.

Not Sure If Your Item Is Allowed?

Call us before you pack. Our team advises on Nigeria Customs rules daily and can tell you within minutes whether your goods can ship — and how to declare them correctly.

Call (+44) 7946 272819 Get a Shipping Quote