Customs grants international travellers 90-day safe passage for imported vehicles

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has started granting safe passage to personal vehicles temporarily imported or transiting through Nigeria by international travellers. The initiative, which took effect Monday, is anchored on the NCS Act 2023 and international conventions including the Revised Kyoto Convention and ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement.

It covers all non-commercial vehicles belonging to visitors for tourism, diplomatic, business, or personal purposes. Travellers must present international passport, driver's licence, vehicle registration, insurance, and Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) at entry points.

Upon satisfactory inspection, a Temporary Vehicle Admission Permit valid for 90 days will be issued electronically. Travellers can apply for up to 30 days extension subject to approval. The vehicle cannot be sold, leased, transferred, modified, or used for commercial purposes during this period.

At exit, travellers must present the vehicle and approved Customs Temporary Admission Declaration. Any accident, theft, or breakdown must be reported immediately to the nearest Customs office.

Will this make Nigeria more attractive for business travellers bringing their vehicles, or does the 90-day limit and documentation requirements still create enough friction to discourage temporary imports?

SOURCE: https://guardian.ng/news/customs-grants-international-travellers-safe-passage-for-imported-vehicles/