Ordinarily, clearing a car from the PORTS should be an easy and largely automated task as it's usually done in other advanced part of the world. However, it is plagued with bureaucracies, system downtime, crowd of people to struggle against and dangerous traffic on Apapa roads to contend with when clearing in Lagos.

Individuals are usually restricted from handling their clearing jobs themselves. Only licensed clearing agencies get online access and access cards to do the job. This does not mean it is not possible for an individual to clear a car personally. However, they will still need the assistance of a licensed clearing agency at one point or the other.

Today, I will be sharing this interesting article and will be taking us through the basic steps involved in clearing a car at the Pprt.

1. Get the vehicle’s Bill of Lading:

It will be sent to you by your foreign shipping agent. They can send the original bill of lading through courier services (DHL, FedEx, etc). Alternatively you can opt for it to be sent to you via email if you want to do “Telex Release” or “Print at Destination” in which a copy of the Bill of Lading can be printed here in Nigeria.

Please know that, without any of the above mentioned documents, it is impossible to do anything in respect of clearing your vehicle. The Bill of Lading contains the information of the vehicle you want to clear e.g the model, year, VIN/Chasis number, weight, name of vessel, port of origin, port of discharge as well as the details of the shipper abroad as well as the name of the consignee who will receive the vehicle in Nigeria.

2. Apply for import duty valuation:

The application must be on the letter head paper of a Registered and Licensed Custom Clearing Agency. A copy of the bill of lading will be attached to the application letter which will be addressed to the Nigeria Custom office e.g TINCAN, PTML Command etc. Unfortunately, individuals cannot apply for this valuation directly, so you have to apply for it through a clearing agency.

In response to the application letter which will be submitted physically, the Customs officials will write the dollar($) value of the vehicle and this value is what is used to calculate the surface duty which is 35%. Additional 35% levy is charged on brand new vehicles which makes it 70%.
This is how to calculate the surface duty assuming the dollar rate of a car is $4000.

$4000 X 35% (import duty rate) X #361(Custom official Dollar exchange rate) = #505,400

Note: This value is just the surface duty and you’ll still have to pay for Tax, Surcharge...etc which will make the TOTAL DUTY #697,957.
Terminal, Shipping and other charges will also be paid, it varies depending on the size of the car and it's content.


3. Input the valuation into the custom server:

After getting the valuation from the custom command, the details will have to be input into the custom server. This is officially called “Direct Trader Input (DTI)”. However, it is popularly referred to as[b] “Punching”[/b]. It is the unique procedure for submitting electronic manifest to Nigeria Custom Service and it can only be done through the same registered agency whose letter head paper was used to apply for the valuation. The Tax Identification Number (TIN) of the consignee will also be needed at this stage.

Upon completion, print the DTI also called “Assessment Notice” as well as SGD (Single Goods Declaration Form). The SGD gives a description of the transaction e.g type of vehicle, the terminal it is located, duty amount and content of the car if anything is loaded in it.

4. Pay import duty:

The import duty has to be paid to the bank that was stated while punching. The document needed by the bank for import duty payment is the assessment notice.

After the payment is made, the bank will issue a bank receipt. Some banks now accept online payment (GTB) but evidence of payment will still be picked up from their branch.


5. Physical inspection and releasing from customs:

Collate all the documents and submit them to the custom office. The required documents are: bank receipt, assessment notice, SGD, valuation copy and Billl of Lading. Upon submission, the documents are registered then they’ll schedule the vehicle for physical examination. This will enable them sight the car and confirm that it tallies with the submitted documents.

They confirm the make, year and VIN/chassis number of the vehicle. They will also check the amount paid for duty and confirm if there is any load in the vehicle after which a report will be submitted to the releasing officer. At this point, the vehicle may not be released if the amount paid is less than the required import duty as an[b] “Alert[/b]” may have been placed on that vehicle until the outstanding is paid.


6. Print exit at the Terminal:

After releasing, proceed to the Terminal with the SGD to print exit copy, you can print this with the C-Number on the custom document if you like. This is the simplest of all the processes.


7. Release from Shipping Company:

Collate all your ocuments to get the car released from the shipping company. The required documents include signed Original Bill of Lading, SGD, Exit copy and signed copy of the consignee’s identity (e.g Drivers Licence, International Passport, National ID and duly stamped/signed Certificate of Incorporation for companies). You also need a copy of the Form C30 (Custom document that permits clearing agencies to operate) and an authority letter from the agency whose details was used to apply for valuation. The shipping company will check all these documents then give an assessment to pay for shipping and terminal charges which can be paid as cash, through POS or online transfer.

8. Sign Gate at Custom Office:

Proceed to register and sign at the gate office. The custom release document and the Exit copy from the shipping company will be needed. They will check the duty paid and verify it on the system. After which, the officer in charge will stamp and sign-off your document.

9. Collect TDO (Terminal Delivery Order):

To collect the TDO, the shipping company’s payment receipt and copy of the signed gate document are required.

10. Receive delivery of the vehicle at the floor:

Documents can now be submitted for the vehicle to be delivered to the open floor ready to cross the final Exit gate.


11. Final custom check:

At the floor, a custom officer and a shipping company official will do their final checks before the car drives out of the port.


12. Final fees:

Before the vehicle is driven out of the gate, final fees will be paid to custom officers on duty, clearing agent’s association, omo-onile fees etc.

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Note:These steps are subject to change without notice and may vary from one shipping line or terminal to another. We used cars shipped through Grimaldi and Sallaum RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off) as case study for this write up.



Are you looking for a reliable Customs Clearing Agent? Stop the search, FIDEX VENTURES will get the job done. We clear and deliver to you in no time, Fidelity is our watchword.

Get your consignment cleared and delivered as shipped, RORO/CONTAINERIZED & GENERAL CARGO. 

Contact FIDEX VENTURES on:
Call/Whatsapp: 08103884330
Email: fidexventures@mail.com
Website: https://fidexventures..com

...always stick to fidelity.

Have you ever wondered how you can identify fake custom papers?

All you need to check is what we call [b]“CUSTOMS REFERENCE NUMBER“ or C-Number on your SGD form "Single Goods Declaration Form".

How To Verify And Rectify Your Custom Duty Papers
As we all know, Nigeria Customs recently set a deadline for offenders to pay outstanding import duties on their cars.

Have you ever wondered how you can identify fake Customs' papers?

All you need to check is what we call “CUSTOMS REFERENCE NUMBER“ or C-Number on your SGD Form - "Single Goods Declaration Form".

This particular number is actually used to input details of your vehicle and payment of duty into the customs’ database. It shows information like the Consignee info (agency handling your job), the means of entry (road for vehicles through land borders and ports for sea), office of entry (Idiroko Customs Command or Seme Customs Command or TIN CAN PORT), location of vehicle and place of discharge (Idiroko Border, Seme Border, Tin-Can), name and address of person/persons responsible for financial settlement (the owner of the vehicle) etc.

What fraudulent dealers do is called MO or machined outside, this is a process where a forger forges the bank receipts and all customs documentation. The documents look genuine but are not in the customs data base. It is a giant syndicate at the ports and borders because the vehicles are ultimately smuggled out of the Ports or Borders with the connivance of fraudulent Customs Officials.

At the top right hand corner of your document is a very bold set of numbers. This is the “C”-Number. You can not miss it because it is bold and prominent. Underneath it is a date. That date is to reflect the date duty was paid at the bank and stored in the customs ASSYCUDA data base. ASSYCUDA means “Automated System Customs Data”. And the date under the C-Number means that that C-Number was computed into the data system on that date plus all the charges paid. If the payment reflects on the data base it means your documents are genuine. On the other hand if it does not reflect it means your car documents are duds/fake and your vehicle is liable to seizure and confiscation if you are stopped at any check point or if you are on a long distance journey.

My advise to any one buying a car from anybody is to request for the relevant documents in particular the SGD form which means “Single Goods Declaration Form” and has the C-Number boldly written at the top right hand corner. Under the C-Number is the date that document was posted into the data system.

No two vehicles can have the same C-Number and date. So armed with this you can visit any customs station to know if your documents are genuine.

With some cotonou smuggled cars showing up on our streets with forged documents as Lagos cleared cars and vehicles been machined out of the ports, this is a stress-free method of verifying your papers.

I am making this post for verification of C-Numbers from the following points of entry :–

1. Lagos port
2. Seme
3. Idiroko.

All you need to do is supply your name, address, VIN and the C-number of the vehicle and we run checks on it.

For more information, kindly contact
FIDEX VENTURES through the following links-:

Mobile – 08103884330

Mail – fidexventures@mail.com

Whatsapp – 08103884330