The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced that effective today, all parcels sent from Nigeria to the United States—excluding letters and documents—will attract a mandatory $80 (or Naira equivalent) prepaid customs duty at the point of acceptance.
The development follows a new U.S. Executive Order titled “Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries”, enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The U.S. government said the measure is aimed at closing tariff evasion loopholes and combating illegal trafficking through low-value shipments.
Implications for Nigerians
- Higher Costs: Individuals sending family packages or small businesses shipping goods must now pay the flat $80 levy, regardless of parcel value.
- Potential Delays: With global carriers and airlines tightening compliance, NIPOST warns of slower processing and longer transit times.
- Stricter Customs Checks: U.S. Customs will subject all incoming parcels to heightened scrutiny, likely adding to delivery delays.
NIPOST Reacts
NIPOST emphasized that the new duty is not peculiar to Nigeria but affects all countries worldwide. The agency said it is working with the Universal Postal Union (UPU), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and airline partners to minimize service disruptions.
“This fee must be paid by the customer at the point of acceptance,” said NIPOST’s Director of Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Musa. “While technically a U.S. customs duty, NIPOST now handles its collection.”
Until now, U.S. law allowed goods valued under $800 to enter duty-free. Scrapping this de minimis exemption marks a major shift with far-reaching consequences for global trade, particularly e-commerce.
Already, major logistics firms are adjusting to the policy. DHL recently suspended certain business-to-consumer shipments to the U.S., citing compliance challenges and additional administrative burdens.
For Nigerian individuals and businesses, the change means recalibrating shipping budgets and expectations. Analysts warn that without effective mitigation, the policy could hit SMEs hardest, increasing export costs and slowing cross-border trade.