The Finance Ministry has told Nigeria Customs to stop the new 4% “FOB” charge on imports.

This move came after consultation with stakeholders and many businesses said the fee would raise costs, slow trade and possibly cause inflation.

The suspension was issued through a ministry circular dated Yesterday (Sept 15, 2025).

Warehouse with containers for clearing illustration


What Is The 4% FOB Charge?

FOB means “Free On Board.” It is the value of your goods at the port of loading, before freight and insurance.

The policy that was paused would have charged 4% of that FOB value on every import.

Earlier this year Customs tried it, paused it, then talked about bringing it back to replace some other fees. Now government has suspended it again. 


If for example your shipment’s FOB is $10,000, the charge would have been $400.


Why This Matters For Businesses and Logistics

1) Clearing Cost And Cash Flow

Removing a 4% FOB line lowers the immediate cash you need to clear cargo. For importers already dealing with FX pressure and port charges, this comes as a relief.

Industry groups had warned the levy would hurt prices and competitiveness. 


2) Speed At The Ports

Any time a fee is switched on or off, port systems and officers need to update processes. Expect a short adjustment window. 


3) Knock-on Effect For Local Logistics

When clearing gets cheaper and more predictable, stock moves faster from Ports to warehouses. That means more interstate waybills and last-mile deliveries for import-heavy businesses.


Final Notes

This is a welcome pause. Importers need stability to plan FX, pricing, and logistics. When costs jump without clear timelines, jobs stall at the port, and everyone down the chain suffers, from warehouse teams to riders delivering the final parcel.

Logistics Businesses, Importers and other Businesses should prepare ahead of time, expect slight delays earlier then plan for a surge in volume in coming weeks.