Nigeria Customs Service begins short-term automobile entry scheme for international travellers 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a process that enables worldwide guests to quickly convey private automobiles into Nigeria.

The brand new framework is aimed toward easing cross-border motion and guaranteeing compliance with worldwide transit guidelines.

The disclosure was contained in a press release issued on the official X account of the Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday.

In line with the assertion, the initiative applies to all private, non-commercial automobiles belonging to worldwide travellers visiting Nigeria for tourism, enterprise, diplomatic, or private functions.

Travellers are required to current legitimate paperwork together with a global passport, worldwide driver’s licence, automobile registration, insurance coverage, and a Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) on the level of entry.

“The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) broadcasts the graduation of procedures for granting secure passage to private automobiles quickly imported or transiting via Nigeria by worldwide travellers.  

“The initiative is anchored on the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and related worldwide conventions on short-term admission and transit of automobiles,” the assertion learn partially. 

The assertion acknowledged that the brand new system is designed to simplify journey, guarantee authorized compliance, and align Nigeria with worldwide customs requirements.

Upon verification, Customs will situation a Short-term Car Admission Allow legitimate for as much as 90 days, with the choice to increase for 30 days topic to approval by the related Customs Space Controller.

Autos admitted below this method are allowed to maneuver freely inside Nigeria however can’t be bought, leased, transferred, modified, or used for business functions. Within the occasion of an accident, theft, or breakdown, travellers are instructed to inform the closest Customs workplace instantly.

The coverage is anchored on the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, in addition to worldwide conventions together with the Revised Kyoto Conference, UN TIR Conference, Istanbul Conference, and the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Motion of Individuals.

The NCS emphasised that the initiative strengthens Nigeria’s dedication to commerce facilitation, regional integration, and cross-border cooperation whereas guaranteeing safety and regulatory compliance.

The brand new process makes it simpler for international guests to convey their private automobiles into Nigeria with out completely importing them.

It additionally ensures travellers comply with clear guidelines, decreasing the chance of authorized or logistical points at borders.

Total, the transfer is predicted to enhance Nigeria’s worldwide journey expertise whereas aligning the nation with world customs practices.

Whereas this new process permits worldwide travellers to herald their private automobiles quickly, Nigeria continues to import numerous automobiles.

Passenger automobile imports rose to N527 billion within the third quarter of 2025, greater than double the N254 billion recorded in the identical interval in 2024, bringing the overall to round N1 trillion within the first 9 months of 2025.

The nation primarily imports automobiles from the USA, Dubai, and South Africa, together with each new and used automobiles.