What is Transit?
Transit refers to the movement of goods through Nigeria under Customs control to another country, without entering into free circulation in Nigeria.
The legal basis for this is the Nigeria Customs Service Act, ECOWAS protocols, and WTO TFA Article 11 (Freedom of Transit).
Transit Routes & Modes
Seaports: Apapa, Tin Can Island, Onne (linked with bonded road movement to land borders)
Land Borders: Seme (Benin), Illela (Niger), Jibiya (Niger), Ikom (Cameroon), Magatari (Niger), etc.
Airports: Lagos, Abuja, Kano
Rail (where available): Linked with inland cargo movement
Step-by-Step Transit Procedure
1. Transit Declaration
- File CUSCAR/SGC/BCN through the Nigeria Single Window.
- Transit manifest provided by shipping line/airline.
2. Guarantee & Bonds
- Transit bond issued by Customs-approved bank or insurance company.
- Cover duties & taxes in case goods are diverted.
3. Customs Escort / Tracking
- Transit cargo may require Customs escort/FOU officers.
- Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS).
4. Movement to Border/Exit Point
- Goods move under sealed transit to designated border.
- Transit time limits apply (usually within 7–14 days).
5. Exit & Discharge
- Customs confirms exit at border point.
- Bond is released once goods leave Nigeria.
Required Documents
- Transit Declaration (Form C1).
- Bill of Lading / Airway Bill.
- Packing list.
- Certificate of Origin (if needed for regional schemes).
- Guarantee/Bond papers.
- Transit Waybill (issued by Customs).
Fees & Charges
- Customs Processing Fee.
- Escort fees (physical escort if required).
- Scanning charges (if transiting through ports with scanning mandatory).
- Road user or infrastructure levy (if applicable).
Regional & International Frameworks
- ECOWAS Inter-State Road Transit (ISRT) Scheme
- WTO TFA – Freedom of Transit
- AfCFTA Trade Facilitation Protocol (in progress)
Challenges & Opportunities
1. Challenges
- Delays due to escorts, checkpoints.
- Infrastructure bottlenecks.
- High cost of transit guarantees.
2. Opportunities
- Nigeria as a hub for West African transit trade.
- Modernization with electronic cargo tracking systems.
- AfCFTA integration boosting corridor traffic.