Nigerians sending parcels to the United States, excluding letters and documents, will now be required to pay a mandatory $80 customs duty (or the naira equivalent), the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced.
The directive follows a new Executive Order issued by the U.S. government, which suspends duty-free exemptions for low-value international postal shipments.
The policy change, enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), now applies to all countries and global postal operators, not just Nigeria.
“The Nigerian Postal Service wishes to inform our esteemed customers of a recent policy change by the Government of the United States of America… This applies to all postal operators and designated postal administrations worldwide,” the public notice read.
NIPOST warned that the decision will have serious implications for Nigerians sending goods to the U.S, whether for personal, business, or family purposes. The policy affects all items except regular documents and letters.
The postal agency noted that logistics companies, airlines, and cargo carriers are adjusting operations to meet new customs requirements, potentially leading to longer transit and processing times for U.S.-bound parcels.
“Global logistics operations are also being affected, as airline and cargo carriers adopt more cautious measures… This may extend both transit and processing times, potentially resulting in delivery delays,” NIPOST said.
Additionally, all incoming shipments to the U.S. will now undergo stricter customs inspections, increasing the likelihood of delays for recipients.
To manage the impact of the U.S. directive, NIPOST said it is working closely with international agencies, including the Universal Postal Union and U.S Customs and Border Protection, as well as airline partners, to reduce service disruptions and maintain delivery efficiency.
“We reassure our customers that NIPOST remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and efficient postal and courier services despite this global regulatory adjustment,” the agency stated.
The U.S. government’s decision to end the $800 de minimis threshold which previously allowed low-value packages to enter the country duty-free, has triggered concern among small businesses and global postal services.
The administration of former President Donald Trump, which introduced the change, argued that the loophole was being exploited to avoid tariffs and smuggle drugs.
Moving forward, parcels will either face country-specific tariff rates or flat-rate duties ranging from $80 to $200 per item, though some personal items and gifts may still qualify for exclusions.
Peter Navarro, Trump’s trade adviser, stated that the move would curb illicit imports while also generating additional revenue from international shipments.
Postal services in countries such as France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, and Australia have already begun adjusting to the new policy, with many ceasing acceptance of U.S-bound packages temporarily.
