IMPORTATION BUSINESS; STEP-BY-STEP IMPORTING INTO NIGERIA

Importation business is a business niche that involves movement of goods or commodities from one country to another. Do you think of importing from somewhere to Nigeria? May be for resale, consumption or for manufacturing. Whatever the reason, there are same laws and principles that must be followed to get things right.

In this article, I am giving a brief bullet-points-guide on how to make your importation business idea a success. The steps I am giving does not matter whether your import is from any part of the world to Nigeria. Hence, the goal is to walk you through importation business.

IMPORTATION BUSINESS IN NIGERIA

Below is a simple bullet point of how to begin and end your importation business into the Nigerian space.

• The importer must have a company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Otherwise, the importer would have to use another company on agreement for importation business.
• Also, open and maintain a bank account with any commercial bank of choice. This bank will be the authorized dealer with Customs to help you obtain import documents. I will tell you why I prefer UBA much later in another article. Suffice to say that any commercial bank can serve your importation business need.
• Approach the First Inland Revenue Services with the certificates as given by CAC to register for Tax Identification Number (TIN), and create access to the Nigerian Single Window for Trade.
• Contact the seller to give you a proforma invoice with proper description of goods of import.
• Liaise with an insurance company to purchase insurance cover for the goods.

REGULATORY DOCUMENTS

• Check which regulatory certificate(s) that apply. Virtually all items of import require SON certifications. If SON applies, liaise with the seller to process SON Product Certificate (PC).

Read also: IMPORTATION DOCUMENTS: HOW TO PROCESS SONCAP NIGERIA

• Activate the SON Product Certificate as described in my earlier article for SON in the above link.
• Opens a Form M on the Nigerian Trade Platform (Single Window system). Attach the required documents. See my article on how to process and obtain Form M.
• Forward a copy of the Form M to your exporter or seller, who will add Form M detail to shipping documents. Equally, contact SON agents, the International Accreditation Firm, with all these documents to obtain SONCAP Certificate.
• The supplier or you should arrange a shipping line, airline, or automobile for road shipment.
• The shipping line or liner should submit manifest to the Nigerian Customs via online platform at the right time.
• Activate the SONCAP as described in my earlier article for SON in the above link.
• Apply for PAAR by sending a set of final documents to the applicant dealer bank. The final documents include activated SONCAP, Bill Lading or Air Waybill or Telex Releases, Combined Certificate of Value and Origin (CCVO), the Commercial Invoice and the Packing List.

CLEARING AND THE CLEARANCE VENDOR

• At this point, the clearing agent comes in to assist your importation business.
• The Clearing agent takes all final documents to a Direct Trade Input (DTI) cafe, to data capture information relating to the shipment.
• The DTI generates Single Goods Declaration (SGD) document and the Duty Assessment Report.
• The clearing agent or vendor gives the Duty Assessment to consignee or whoever is responsible for the cargo to make payment via Customs approved commercial bank
• Confirm the payment by ensuring the bank stamps and sign the payment teller before agent proceeds with physical examination and finishes up.

Consequently, taking these steps will reduce the amount of money spent on clearing goods in every importation business. We help from ground zero to the delivery of your items to ensure minimal expense.

Similarly, Read also FORM M IN NIGERIA: HOW TO PROCESS AND OBTAIN IT

CONCLUSION:

In summary, the following are the basic clearing documents you need in your importation business in Nigeria:

• Certificate of incorporation (yours or that of the clearing vendor or agent or someone else’s)
• Pro forma invoice; we help importers in designing Customs acceptable format.
• SON Product Certificate – from approved SON Agency.
• Marine insurance or Insurance Certificate. You have to purchase cargo insurance from an insurance company. We have best Insurance companies that serve best premium rates.
• Again, you are to obtain Form M from Nigerian Customs via your bank. We suggest you use a documentation specialist like Vagmon.
• SONCAP Certificate – same way you get SON Product Certificate.
• Best to contract a documentation specialist like Vagmon e-Grup & Logistics Ltd.
• Bill of Lading or Air waybill, to be issued by the shipping line or the airline chosen
• Similarly, Combined Certificate of Value and Origin comes from the Seller of goods.
• Commercial invoice – from the seller of commodities, and replaces the proforma invoice after Form M.
• The packing list too comes from the supplier of goods or equipment.
• Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR); you are to process from Nigerian Customs via your chosen commercial bank.

Importation business to Nigeria becomes easier when you follow the right steps. Furthermore, contact Vagmon e-Grup & Logistics Ltd to handle all things for you. Finally, you can call us today at +2349075526276.

Please follow and like us: