From proforma invoice to number plate: the nine steps of importing a truck from China to Nigeria, with the documents and decisions at each stage.
Importing a truck into Nigeria rewards preparation. The process is not difficult, but it is sequential — a mistake at the Form M stage blocks everything after it. This guide walks the full route as a Nigerian buyer will experience it.
Step 1 — Specify and quote
Start from the job: payload or volume, route condition, and budget. A serious supplier quotes FOB with options listed line by line, and can add CIF to Lagos or Onne. Confirm the specification in writing before any payment.
Step 2 — Proforma invoice
The proforma invoice (PI) is the anchor document for Form M. It must show the seller, buyer, description, HS-compatible goods description, quantity, unit price, total, Incoterm and port. Errors here surface later as PAAR queries.
Step 3 — SONCAP Product Certificate
Trucks are regulated goods under SONCAP. Before Form M, your shipment needs a Product Certificate (PC) issued by a SON-accredited inspection body (Intertek, SGS, Bureau Veritas, Cotecna and others) based on the supplier's documents and inspection. The factory provides the invoice, packing list and technical documents your inspection body requires.
Step 4 — Open Form M at your bank
Your Authorized Dealer Bank (ADB) opens Form M on the CBN trade system (Nigerian Single Window), attaching the PI, the Product Certificate and a marine insurance certificate from a Nigerian insurer. The description on Form M must match the PI exactly.
Step 5 — Production and pre-shipment inspection
The factory builds the truck; you may arrange third-party inspection (SGS/BV/TÜV) before loading. Photographic inspection reports are standard practice and we encourage them.
Step 6 — Shipping and documents
Trucks ship RoRo (drive-on) or in containers depending on size and route. The document set — commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin — must be consistent with Form M.
Step 7 — PAAR
After shipping documents are presented, the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) is generated through the single window system, stating the assessable value and duty treatment. PAAR is mandatory before clearance.
Step 8 — Customs clearance at the port
Your licensed clearing agent files entries against PAAR, pays duty/levy/VAT, and handles port charges at Apapa, Tin Can or Onne. Demurrage discipline matters: agree free-time and a timeline with your agent before the vessel sails.
Step 9 — Registration and plate
After clearance, the truck goes through vehicle registration, insurance and number-plating through the normal state channels.
Timeline reality check
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Specification and quotation | 3–10 days |
| Production (standard build) | 25–50 days |
| SONCAP PC processing | 1–3 weeks (parallel to production) |
| Ocean shipping to Lagos | 4–8 weeks depending on service |
| Clearance and delivery | 1–3 weeks after berthing |
Plan roughly 3–5 months door-to-door for a first order, and much less once your documents and agent relationships are established.
Regulatory figures and duty rates change. Always confirm current requirements with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Customs Service and your licensed clearing agent before you ship.