Nigeria: Review of Agricultural Import and Export Restrictions

Nigeria maintains several lists of agricultural and related products prohibited from trade, including at least two export lists and one import list. The scope of many products on these lists is not always well described, leading to misinterpretation and confusion. The lists are also maintained by different government agencies, each with their own mandates. Trade prohibitions on specific products may be enforced, waived, superseded, or disregarded according to other government actions, as well as, on a case-by-case basis. According to contacts, the Customs Service’s import and export prohibition lists are enforced on a more consistent basis than the Export (Prohibition) Act. U.S. exporters should take note of these trade prohibitions, gather the latest information from local trade contacts, and understand the opaque nature of Nigeria’s trade regulations.