The United States has criticized the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for creating major hurdles to trade, citing inefficiencies and corruption as key obstacles affecting business ties between both countries.
According to the 2025 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), outdated and inconsistent customs procedures—alongside frequent regulatory changes and inter-agency disputes—are slowing cargo clearance and worsening delays at Nigerian ports. These challenges, the report says, often lead to the deterioration of perishable goods and financial losses for importers.
Despite efforts to modernize, many customs processes remain manual and overly bureaucratic.
The report also flagged Nigeria’s restrictive foreign exchange (FX) policies as a barrier to U.S. investment, noting that American firms struggle to access dollars for imports or to service dollar-denominated debts. It added that Nigerian importers are often required to commit to local production schemes to obtain FX or import permits, adding more red tape and slowing trade.
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