Apapa, Lekki, Tin Can Island and Onne — handled end-to-end. Form M, PAAR, NAFDAC, SON/SONCAP and NCS clearance managed by our CRFFN-licensed agents. From China, UK, USA and UAE — we clear at all major Nigerian seaports and deliver nationwide. Zero demurrage surprises.
Our CRFFN-licensed agents are physically present at Apapa, Lekki, Tin Can Island and Onne. We advise which port gives you the fastest clearance and lowest cost for your cargo type.
The difference between LCL and FCL can mean a 30–60% cost swing. We advise which is right based on your CBM, cargo type and urgency — at no charge.
Your goods are consolidated with other importers' cargo in one container. You pay per cubic metre (CBM) — ideal if you're shipping below a full container's worth.
You rent the entire container — 20ft, 40ft or 40ft High Cube. Your goods travel alone, which means lower per-CBM cost at scale, faster devanning, and reduced handling risk.
All-in indicative ranges include ocean freight, origin charges, destination handling, NPA levy, customs duties and our service fee. Confirmed within 24 hours.
* Indicative rates. Actual costs vary by chargeable CBM/weight, commodity, current ocean freight market, FX rate, port of discharge and cargo classification. All confirmed in writing within 24 hours of enquiry.
Nigeria-specific guidance. Click any scenario to start a WhatsApp conversation.
Tiles, granite, steel rods, aluminium, glass. Heavy and bulky — air freight is uneconomical. FCL sea is the only viable mode. We clear at Apapa and Tin Can Island.
Cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, heavy plant equipment. RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) or container. Cleared at Apapa, Tin Can Island or Onne. Customs valuation advice included.
Above 500 kg / 3 CBM, sea freight is typically 60–80% cheaper than air per kg. For non-urgent cargo, the cost saving dwarfs the time difference. FCL from ₦1.8M beats air every time.
Production lines, generators, compressors, heavy plant. Oversized or out-of-gauge cargo handled with open-top or flat-rack containers. Onne Free Zone for duty-exempt industrial imports.
Rice, pasta, canned goods, beverages, dry spices, packaged foods. Non-perishable — no urgency premium required. NAFDAC clearance coordinated. Form M and SON compliance advised.
If your goods are time-sensitive — perishables, urgent spare parts, electronics for a launch — sea freight's 25–45 day transit makes air the right call. We handle both and advise honestly.
A freight forwarder quotes you ₦600,000 per CBM. What they don't say: NPA levy, destination THC, container examination fee, CISS inspection, NCS scanning charge, "port agent fees" and their own markup can easily add ₦800,000–₦2,000,000 to a typical FCL shipment — none of which was in the original quote.
By the time your container clears Apapa, you've paid five people you didn't know existed. Your supplier is on the phone. Your customer is cancelling. Your line of credit is maxed.
Doubleway quotes every one of these charges up front — named, itemised and explained. Our clients pay what they were told they'd pay. That's the only way we work. CRFFN/2023/004567. CAC RC 9161673.
Eight steps — pre-arrival to final delivery. We manage every one, with WhatsApp updates at every milestone. Zero demurrage is the goal at each stage.
We file the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report with Nigeria Customs 48–72 hours before the vessel berths. Form M and all commercial documents submitted. Early filing = faster duty assessment and reduced port dwell time.
Original Bill of Lading received and endorsed through your bank (for LC shipments) or endorsed directly from the shipping line. We collect and present to the terminal for container release authority.
Vessel berths at Nigerian port. Cargo manifest confirmed. Container number and seal verified against shipping documents. Any discrepancies flagged and resolved immediately — before customs examines.
Nigeria Customs Service assesses duty based on PAAR and SGD. Container selected for green (documentary), yellow (scanning) or red channel (physical examination). Our agent attends all physical examinations in person.
SON (Standards Organisation of Nigeria) physical inspection for regulated goods. NAFDAC inspection for food, pharma, cosmetics. We coordinate timing to run concurrently with NCS — avoiding sequential delays that cost demurrage days.
Import duty, VAT, NPA port development levy and CISS levy paid on your behalf from funds you've provided. All receipts forwarded to you same-day via WhatsApp. Release order issued by NCS typically within 24 hours of payment confirmation.
NCS releases the container. Terminal gate-out pass obtained. Container loaded on our bonded truck and exits the port. Photo of gate-out sent to you immediately. Terminal demurrage clock stops here.
GPS-tracked, insured haulage from any port to Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt or any state. Devanning (container unloading) at your warehouse or bonded facility. Empty container returned to depot. Final invoice issued.
Nigerian seaports charge demurrage (container rental beyond the free period) and detention (container outside the port) that can run to ₦150,000–₦600,000 per container per day — and it accumulates silently while your agent is unresponsive. Use our calculator to see what's at stake.
Find out how much demurrage exposure you carry on your current or next shipment. Enter the details below.
Don't forget detention — the empty container must be returned to the shipping line's depot within the free detention period (often 5–7 days at Lagos). We coordinate truck scheduling and container return to prevent double charges.
Specialist handling, documentation and clearance for every major sea freight commodity category.
Tiles, granite, marble, glass, aluminium, roofing sheets, sanitary ware, steel rods, cement. FCL-only due to weight and volume. Cleared at Apapa or Tin Can Island. HS code advisory critical for correct duty rating.
Cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, heavy plant, forklifts. RoRo or container. Customs valuation based on DVLA / JD Power. FIRS duty + ECOWAS levy applies. Cleared at Apapa, Tin Can or Onne. We advise on Customs valuation disputes.
Production lines, generators, compressors, pumps, drilling equipment. Oversized cargo accommodated with open-top and flat-rack containers. Onne Free Zone imports may qualify for duty exemption on qualifying industrial goods.
Rice, pasta, beverages, canned goods, condiments, packaged foods. NAFDAC registration verification, SON compliance check, and CISS pre-inspection certificate required. We advise on NAFDAC registration status before goods ship.
Drugs, medical devices, hospital equipment, diagnostic reagents. NAFDAC import permit mandatory before shipment. Temperature-controlled (reefer) FCL containers available for cold-chain products. GDP-compliant handling.
Fabrics, garments, footwear, accessories, household goods. LCL consolidation from China, Turkey or Europe ideal for mixed orders. SON conformity assessment required for regulated goods. Duty rates vary by HS chapter.
Industrial chemicals, lubricating oils, fertilisers, industrial gases. HAZMAT classification under IMDG Code, MARPOL compliance and Dangerous Goods Declaration required at origin. Nigeria's DPR may issue additional permits for petroleum-based products.
TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, power tools, solar panels, cables, transformers. SONCAP certificate required at origin. SON inspection at port. Anti-static and humidity-control packing advised for sea transit.
Complete household moves from the UK, USA, UAE or Europe. Returning Nigerians may qualify for duty exemption on used personal effects. Full documentation pack and customs valuation support. LCL or FCL depending on volume.
We handle all of these on your behalf with CRFFN-licensed agents physically present at every Nigerian port. Know what applies to your goods before they ship.
Form M is a mandatory Central Bank of Nigeria document for all commercial imports valued above USD $1,000. It must be opened at your Nigerian bank and approved before goods leave the origin country. Failure means goods cannot clear customs.
PAAR is the Nigeria Customs mandatory filing that must be submitted before the vessel arrives at port. Filed via the Nigeria Customs Service NICIS II system. Early filing — before vessel departure from origin — gives the fastest duty assessment and shortest port dwell time.
Food, beverages, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and packaged water all require NAFDAC inspection at the port. Pre-registration of products dramatically reduces port inspection time. First-time importers must notify NAFDAC before goods ship.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria inspects regulated products at the port. SONCAP (Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme) certificate must be obtained at origin for electronics and regulated goods — before shipment.
Nigeria's Combined Inspection, Scanning and Supervision scheme applies a levy (currently 1% of FOB value) on all commercial imports. The CISS certificate is issued at origin by a government-approved inspection agency and presented at the Nigerian port.
NPA charges port development levy, cargo throughput levy, and terminal handling charges at all Nigerian seaports. These are published government tariffs — passed through at cost by Doubleway with zero markup. Storage (demurrage) charges are separate and avoidable.
All times are estimates including origin warehouse, ocean transit, port clearance at Nigerian port and final delivery. Subject to vessel schedules, port congestion and NCS processing speed.
| Origin | Key Ports | Ocean Transit | Total Door-to-Door | Destination Ports | LCL Rate (indicative) | FCL 20ft (indicative) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | Guangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, Yiwu, Shenzhen | 20–28 days | 28–35 days | Apapa, Lekki, Tin Can, Onne | ₦420K–680K/CBM | From ₦1.8M | Most Popular |
| 🇬🇧 UK | Felixstowe, Southampton, Tilbury, Liverpool | 15–22 days | 22–30 days | Apapa, Lekki, Tin Can | ₦510K–790K/CBM | From ₦2.1M | UK Contact |
| 🇺🇸 USA East | New York, Baltimore, Houston, Savannah | 18–28 days | 25–38 days | Apapa, Lekki, Onne | ₦560K–820K/CBM | From ₦2.3M | |
| 🇺🇸 USA West | Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle | 22–35 days | 30–45 days | Apapa, Lekki | ₦590K–860K/CBM | From ₦2.5M | |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) | 12–18 days | 18–25 days | Apapa, Tin Can, Lekki | ₦380K–620K/CBM | From ₦1.6M | Fastest Route |
| 🇩🇪 Europe | Hamburg, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Barcelona | 14–20 days | 20–28 days | Apapa, Lekki, Tin Can | ₦490K–760K/CBM | From ₦2.0M | |
| 🇮🇳 India | Mumbai (JNPT), Chennai, Mundra | 15–22 days | 22–30 days | Apapa, Lekki, Onne | ₦400K–650K/CBM | From ₦1.7M |
* Door-to-door includes origin warehouse pickup, ocean transit, port clearance and Lagos/Abuja delivery. Port congestion at Apapa can add 3–7 days. Lekki Deep Sea Port typically faster. Abuja / Kano / Port Harcourt delivery adds 1–2 days for haulage. All times and rates indicative only.
A frank, Nigeria-specific comparison. We handle both — so we have no bias.
| Factor | 🚢 Sea Freight | ✈ Air Freight |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per kg | Much lower — 60–80% cheaper | Higher (₦3.5k–8k/kg) |
| Transit time | 25–45 days | 3–7 days |
| Best for weight | Any weight — ideal 500 kg+ | Best under 500 kg |
| FCL minimum | 1 CBM (LCL) / full container (FCL) | No minimum (45 kg charge applies) |
| Port clearance time | 5–10 working days | 1–3 working days (MMIA) |
| Vehicles | Yes — RoRo and container | Not viable |
| Building materials | Yes — FCL standard | Not viable (too heavy) |
| Perishables | Reefer only — limited | Yes — best option |
| Electronics | Possible but slow | Preferred — faster sales cycle |
| Demurrage risk | High — port congestion in Nigeria | Low — MMIA fast clearance |
| Documentation | Complex — B/L, Form M, PAAR, NPA | Simpler — Air Waybill |
| Carbon footprint | Much lower per kg | Higher |
Many of our clients ship mixed orders — some goods are urgent (electronics for a product launch, spare parts to restart a factory) while others are not (bulk packaging, furniture, raw materials). Rather than paying air freight rates on everything or waiting 35 days for sea on everything, we split the shipment:
At 15 CBM, costs converge — the question becomes: is 35 days at sea vs 5 days by air worth saving ₦0–₦600K on a shipment this size? For electronics, usually not. Ask us to calculate yours.
We ship 3 FCL containers from China every month. Before Doubleway, demurrage was our biggest expense — ₦400,000 average per container because our old agent would file PAAR after the vessel arrived. Now it's zero. They file PAAR before the ship even leaves Guangzhou.
I was paying three different "agents" to clear my building materials at Apapa — and still getting shocked by NPA levies, scanning fees and "examination charges" I didn't budget for. Doubleway sent me a single line-item estimate. My final invoice was 4% over it. That's a different world.
We import pharmaceutical raw materials from Germany and India. NAFDAC clearance used to hold our containers for 3 weeks at Apapa. Doubleway pre-notifies NAFDAC before the vessel departs — by the time cargo arrives, we're in the inspection queue. Our containers exit within 8 days now.
Bill of Lading · Form M · PAAR (Sea) · NAFDAC pre-notification · SON/SONCAP certificate · CISS certificate · Commercial invoice · Packing list · NPA & terminal charges explainer — all in one printable PDF. Used by 1,200+ sea importers.
LCL from 1 CBM. FCL 20ft, 40ft, 40ft HC. Apapa, Lekki, Tin Can Island, Onne. No hidden fees. CRFFN-licensed clearance. Zero-demurrage policy. CAC RC 9161673.
Based on your cargo details.
Important: This is an indicative estimate only. Actual costs depend on final CBM measurement, commodity classification, current ocean freight rates, FX rate, port of discharge, NPA tariff, NAFDAC/SON requirements and demurrage (if any). A confirmed written estimate is provided within 24 hours of enquiry. Final invoice guaranteed within 10% of confirmed estimate.
