Nigeria import prohibition items are not the same as 42 items restricted for foreign exchange. Most people make the mistake of exchanging prohibited goods for not-valid-FOREX items. This article will differentiate between what is restricted and what is prohibited.
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NIGERIA IMPORT PROHIBITED ITEMS:
Nigeria import prohibited items are commodities marked as contraband. Thus, what this means is that importation of such goods is illegal and not allowed. Also, any importation of such goods by an importer is treated as violation of and order. Items prohibited for importation include the following:
ITEMS (GOODS) DESCRIPTION | HS CODES RANGE |
| Live or Dead Birds including Frozen Poultry | 0105.1100 – 0105.9900, 0106.3100 – 0106.3900, 0207.1100 – 0207.3600 and 0210.9900 |
| Pork, Beef | 0201.1000 – 0204.5000, 0206.1000 – 0206.9000, 0210.1000 – 0210.2000 |
| Birds Eggs | 0407.0000 |
| Refined Vegetable Oils and Fats | 1507.1000.00 – 1516.2000.29 |
| Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form containing added flavouring or colouring matter | 1701.91.1000 – 1701.99.9000 |
| Cocoa Butter, Powder and Cakes | 1802.00.0000 – 1803.20000, 1805.001000 – 1805.00.9000, 1806.10.0000 – 1806.20.0000 and 1804.00.0000 |
| Spaghetti/Noodles | 1902.1100 – 1902.30.0000 |
| Spaghetti/Noodles | 1902.1100 – 1902.30.0000 |
| Fruit Juice in Retail Packs | 2009.11.0012 – 2009.11.0013 – 2009.9000.99 |
| Waters, including Mineral Waters and Aerated Waters containing added Sugar or Sweetening Matter or Flavoured, ice snow | 2201.1000 – 2201.90.00 |
| other non-alcoholic beverages | 2202.10.00 – 2202.9000.99 |
| Bagged Cement | 2523.2900.22 |
NIGERIA IMPORT PROHIBITED ITEMS: MEDICALS | 3003 and 3004 |
| |
NIGERIA IMPORT PROHIBITED ITEMS: OTHERS | |
| Waste Pharmaceuticals | 3006.9200 |
| Soaps and Detergents (in retail packs only) | 3401.11.1000 – 3402.90.0000 |
| Mosquito Repellent Coils | 3808.9110.91 |
| Rethreaded and used Pneumatic tyres but excluding used trucks tyres for rethreading of sized 11.00 x 20 and above | 4012.2010.00 |
| Corrugated Paper and Paper Boards | 4808.1000 |
| cartons, boxes and cases made from corrugated paper and paper boards | 4819.1000 |
| Toilet paper, Cleaning or facial tissue | 4818.1000 – 4818.9000 |
| Telephone Re-charge Cards and Vouchers | 4911.9990.91 |
| Carpets and other Textile floor coverings falling under | 5701.10.000 – 5705.00.0000 |
| All types of Foot Wears, Bags and Suitcases | 6401.1000.11 – 6405.9000.99 |
| Hollow Glass Bottles of a capacity exceeding 150mls (0.15 litres) of all kinds used for packaging of beverages by breweries and other beverage and drink companies | 7010.9021.29 and 7010.9031.00. |
| Used Compressors | 8414.3000 |
| Used Air Conditioners | 8415.1000.11 – 8415.9000.99 |
| Used Fridges/Freezers | 8418.1000.11 – 8418.69.0000 |
| Used Motor Vehicles above fifteen (15) years from the year of manufacture | 8703.10.00 – 8703.90.0000 |
| Ball Point Pens and parts including refills (excluding tip) | 9608.10.0000 |
| Tomato paste or concentrate put up for retail sale | 2002100000, 2002902000, 2002909000 |
42 ITEMS NOT VALID FOR OFFICIAL FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Items marked as not valid for foreign exchange are not the same as prohibited items. Foreign currency for the importation of Not-valid-for-FOREX items must be sourced by individual importers from the open market. Therefore, not-valid-for-FOREX items are not funded from inter-bank market. To import not valid for foreign exchange commodities in Nigeria requires approval from the central bank of Nigeria. For details on how to secure approval from central bank of Nigeria, see my article: CBN 41 ITEMS NOT VALID-FOR-FOREX: HOW TO IMPORT
Conclusion:
Nigeria import prohibited items are sometimes mistaken as items marked not valid for foreign exchange. This article has shown that both classifications are different. Not valid for foreign exchange items means that the commodities are not legible for official foreign exchange. To import not valid for foreign exchange item, importers must source foreign currency from the parallel market. Prohibited items are contraband goods and are therefore not allowed for importation except by government agencies with permission.
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