The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is saddled with the responsibility of managing the border and that entails enforcing, or assist in the enforcement of, a wide range of import and export prohibitions and restrictions on behalf of a number of government agencies like the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON).

Recently, goods worth 18.3 billion naira have been seized by customs and that is why Valuehandlers is giving the list of goods that are prohibited and should not be imported into the country. These prohibitions and restrictions by the NCS have been introduced over time for reasons of security, public health, environmental protection, and for maintenance of order and morality.

If there is an absolute prohibition on a good, it means you are not allowed to import the goods into Nigeria under any circumstances. But if it is a mere restriction, importation may be allowed provided you have obtained written permission, from the relevant agency, to do so. For example, pharmaceutical products not listed in Nigeria may be imported provided a written permit is obtained from NAFDAC.

Nigeria’s list of prohibited or restricted imports is as follows:

1. Live or Dead Birds including Frozen Poultry

2. Pork, Beef

3. Birds Eggs

4. Refined Vegetable Oils and Fats [but excluding refined Linseed, Castor and Olive oils. Crude vegetable oil is however NOT banned from importation].

5. Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form containing added flavoring or coloring matter in retail packs.

6. Cocoa Butter, Powder and Cakes

7. Spaghetti/Noodles

8. Fruit Juice in Retail Packs

9. Waters, including Mineral Waters and Aerated Waters containing added Sugar or Sweetening Matter or Flavored, ice snow, other non-alcoholic beverages [ but excluding energy or Health Drinks {Liquid Dietary Supplements} e.g. Power Horse, Red Ginseng etc], and Beer and Stout (Bottled, Canned or Otherwise packed)

10. Bagged Cement

11. Medicaments as indicated below:

Paracetamol tablets and syrups, Cotrimoxazole tablets and syrups, Metronidazole tablets and syrups, Chloroquine tablets and syrups, Haematinic formulations, ferrous sulphate and ferrous gluconate tablets, folic acid tablets, vitamin B Complex Tablets (except modified released formulations). Multivitamin tablets, capsules and syrups (except special formulations), Aspirin tablets (except modified released formulation and soluble aspirin), Magnesium trisilicate tablets and suspensions. Piperazine tablets and syrups, Levamisole tablets and syrups, Clotrimazole cream, Ointments– penicillin/gentamycin, Pyrantel pamoate tablets and syrups, and Intravenous fluids (dextrose, normal saline, etc.).

12. Waste Pharmaceuticals.

13. Soaps and Detergents in retail packs
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