US imposes $80 prepaid duty on Nigeria shipments

The Nigerian Postal Service has announced that, effective August 29, 2025, all postal shipments from Nigeria to the United States would attract a mandatory prepaid customs duty of $80 or its naira equivalent.

But the new duty excludes letters and documents.

In a public notice on Friday, NIPOST explained that the new charges follow a recent Executive Order by the US Government suspending de minimis exemptions for postal shipments worldwide.

The directive was issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

“The Nigerian Postal Service wishes to inform our esteemed customers of a recent policy change by the Government of the United States of America, enacted through the Executive Order on ‘Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries,’” the notice stated, adding that, the measure applied to all postal operators globally, not just Nigeria.

NIPOST warned that the change could affect Nigerians sending parcels to family, friends, or business partners in the U.S.

The agency said airlines and cargo carriers were already adopting stricter handling protocols, which might extend transit and processing times, possibly causing delivery delays.

We gathered that additional Customs checks on arrival in the US could further increase waiting times for recipients.

The postal service assured customers it is working with the Universal Postal Union, US Customs and Border Protection, and airline partners to minimise disruptions and maintain service quality.

“We reassure our customers that NIPOST remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and efficient postal and courier services despite this global regulatory adjustment,” the notice added.