Shipping vehicles and machinery to Lagos / Apapa
The largest vehicle import market in West Africa and the busiest container gateway in the region. Apapa and the surrounding terminals handle high volumes and can be severely congested.
West AfricaUN/LOCODE NGAPPContainer · RoRo · Breakbulk
Options
Methods available on this trade
| Method | Available to Lagos / Apapa |
|---|---|
| Container | Yes — the default |
| RoRo | Yes — RoRo services call Lagos regularly for vehicles |
| Breakbulk | Yes, but berth and crane availability must be checked |
Confirm method availability at the time of booking. RoRo coverage in particular depends on which services are calling the port that month.
Timing
Transit time
| From | To | Indicative transit | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tianjin / Qingdao | Lagos / Apapa | 30–45 days indicative — confirmed at booking | Port to port, excluding destination clearance |
| Shanghai / Nansha / Yantian / Shekou | Lagos / Apapa | 30–45 days (via southern ports) indicative — confirmed at booking | Port to port |
Transit is port to port and excludes destination clearance, inland delivery and any transhipment delay. We give the current figure in writing with the quotation.
Operational notes
What to watch out for on this route
- Congestion and truck access to Apapa are the operational risk, not the ocean leg.
- Demurrage and storage at destination are the costs that hurt. Collect the consignee’s documentation capability before you ship, not after arrival.
- Nigeria enforces used-vehicle import strictly: vehicles must be manufactured within 12 years (2026 → 2014 or newer, by VIN plate date, not model year); right-hand drive is prohibited. SONCAP / VehCAP pre-shipment conformity certification, Form M opened at a Nigerian bank before shipment, PAAR and a BSC/ECTN are mandatory. The NAC levy was cut from 15% to 5% on 1 July 2026.
On the ground
Customs clearance in Nigeria
We can arrange destination clearance in Nigeria — import declaration, duty assessment, inspection coordination and release — through the clearing agents we work with in the country. One party is accountable from the supplier in China through to the vehicle released at destination, and there is no gap at the port where nobody is responsible.
Paperwork
Documents required
- Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading
- Conformity assessment / pre-export verification — SONCAP certification (since Mar 2026 via the Nigeria Single Window) and VehCAP pre-shipment inspection are mandatory; without them the vehicle cannot clear customs.
- Cargo tracking note formalities
- Consignee’s import permits and tax identification
Documentary requirements change and vary by commodity and consignee. This list is a starting point, not a compliance guarantee — the consignee’s licensed broker confirms what applies.
Book a shipment to Lagos / Apapa
Send vehicle details, dimensions and weight and the origin city. We come back with methods, cost and the next sailing.
Request a QuoteQuestions we get asked often
How long does shipping to Lagos / Apapa take?
We quote the current port-to-port transit in writing with the quotation. Published figures go stale quickly; ours are confirmed against the service being booked.
Is RoRo available to Lagos / Apapa?
It depends on which services are calling. Ask us and we will check the current rotation before you commit to container rates.
Can you handle destination clearance?
Yes. In Nigeria we arrange the destination clearance ourselves through the clearing agents we work with in the country — import declaration, duty assessment, inspection coordination and release.
Can you ship machinery as well as vehicles to Lagos / Apapa?
Yes — construction and mining machinery moves on the same services, by container, breakbulk or on flat racks depending on size and weight.