Which frozen fish do you supply for Nigeria?
Mackerel (titus), horse mackerel (kote), herring (shawa) and hake (panla), plus sardinella and bullet tuna on request. Wild-caught fish only, in full 40ft reefer containers.
What we offer for Nigeria
| Family | Most requested products | Origin | Container | Detailed page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen mackerel (titus) | Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus), 200–600 g; Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias), 16+ to 25+ cm; Pacific chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), 100–900 g+ | Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland; Morocco, Mauritania; Chile, Peru, China, Japan | 40' reefer at -18 °C, about 27 t (20 kg cartons) | Frozen fish to Nigeria |
| Frozen horse mackerel (kote) | Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus), 16+ to 25+ cm; jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi), 300–900 g+ | North-East and Central-East Atlantic; South-East Pacific (Chile, Peru) | 40' reefer at -18 °C, about 26 t net (25–27.5 t depending on product) | Frozen fish to Nigeria |
| Frozen herring (shawa) | Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), whole round, 150–200 g, 200–300 g, 300 g+ | North-East Atlantic | 40' reefer at -18 °C, about 26 t net, 20 or 30 kg cartons | Frozen fish to Nigeria |
| Frozen hake (panla) | Pacific hake (Merluccius gayi), whole round, semi-IQF, up to 1 kg and 1 kg+ | South-East Pacific, landed in Ecuador | 40' reefer at -18 °C, 10 kg cartons, tonnage stated in the offer | Frozen fish to Nigeria |
| Other wild-caught fish, on request | Sardinella (Sardinella aurita), bullet tuna (Auxis thazard) | Central-East Atlantic; South-East Pacific | 40' reefer at -18 °C, about 26 t net | Frozen fish to Nigeria |
unprocessed poultry, pork and beef are on Nigeria's import prohibition list. Frozen farmed fish is not allowed either. For Nigeria we offer wild-caught frozen fish only.
Buyer's guide: frozen mackerel and horse mackerel for West Africa.
Ports and transit
- Apapa and Tin Can Island (Lagos): the two main container ports of Lagos. The Apapa terminal has more than 900 reefer plugs under constant monitoring.
- Onne (Rivers State): for buyers in the south-east and south-south.
- Transit: about 20–28 days from Northern European ports, depending on the carrier, routing and berth waiting time. Berth waiting time in Lagos varies by terminal and season: plan for it. The exact transit is stated in each offer.
- Incoterms: CFR Apapa, Tin Can Island or Onne by default (we pay the freight; the importer insures the cargo in Nigeria, as Form M requires a Nigerian marine insurance certificate). CIF on request, if the importer and its bank confirm it fits the Form M. FOB (you arrange the freight) on request.
Documents and controls
- Health certificate from the competent authority of the origin country; the approval number is stated on that certificate.
- Certificate of origin, invoice, packing list and bill of lading; proforma invoice for opening Form M.
- Species and Latin name stated on the offer and the documents. English labelling.
- Temperature recorder and SGS pre-shipment inspection on request. Nigeria applies destination inspection: the Nigeria Customs Service inspects imports on arrival.
- Before ordering, the importer obtains: its fish import licence and allocation from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy); NAFDAC's authorisation to open Form M, which requires a valid allocation and expires on 31 December; then Form M, opened through an authorised dealer bank on the trade single window. Imported quantities must not exceed the approved quantities.
- On arrival: the Nigeria Customs Service issues the PAAR (Pre-Arrival Assessment Report: value, classification and duty) and inspects the goods. NAFDAC checks food products after customs clearance. The role of NAQS (the agricultural quarantine service, competent for aquatic resources) for each consignment is confirmed by the importer and its clearing agent.
- The procedure is changing (digitisation of fish import licences approved in February 2026, new B'Odogwu customs system): current requirements are confirmed by the importer and its clearing agent before each loading. We send all documents at loading.
Import requirements at a glance
| Item | Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Authorities | Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy): fish import licences and allocations. NAFDAC: authorisation to open Form M for frozen fish, food control. Nigeria Customs Service: PAAR, clearance and destination inspection. NAQS: sanitary measures for aquatic resources. |
| To obtain before shipment | By the importer: fish import licence and allocation; NAFDAC authorisation to open Form M (valid allocation attached, about 9 working days for a single item, expires on 31 December); electronic Form M opened through an authorised dealer bank before shipment, with proforma invoice and marine insurance certificate. |
| Documents on arrival | Origin health certificate, certificate of origin, invoice, packing list, bill of lading, Form M; documents in English. |
| Controls | PAAR issued by Customs (value, classification, duty); destination inspection by the Nigeria Customs Service; NAFDAC check after clearance (at least half of the shelf life remaining at inspection, according to USDA). |
| Typical port clearance time | Confirmed by the importer and its clearing agent. Also allow for berth waiting time, which varies by terminal. |
| Duties and taxes | Calculated by Customs on the PAAR; amount confirmed by the importer and its clearing agent. |
This reflects published regulation; the importer and their clearing agent confirm current requirements before each loading.
What sells in this market
- Mackerel (titus): the best-known fish in the market. Tell us the species, size and carton weight: we quote against your specification.
- Horse mackerel (kote), herring (shawa), hake (panla): sold whole in the markets, often smoked or fried.
- Wild-caught fish only: no tilapia, pangasius or catfish for Nigeria.
Entry routes
- By sea only: Apapa and Tin Can Island in Lagos, Onne in Rivers State.
- No road route: frozen fish may not enter through land borders; no transit through Cotonou or Lomé.
- Our role: delivery CFR (or CIF on request) to the Nigerian port; clearance and inland transport arranged by the importer, to whom we supply the documents.
How to order
- Tell us the species, size, volume, port, and your fish import licence and allocation.
- We send a firm offer, valid for a few days, and the proforma invoice for your Form M.
- The contract or proforma invoice sets the price, Incoterm and payment terms, agreed contract by contract.
- You open Form M, with NAFDAC's authorisation, before shipment. We arrange loading and send the documents at departure for the PAAR and customs clearance.
FAQ
What do titus, kote, shawa and panla mean?
They are Nigerian market names: titus for mackerel, kote for horse mackerel, shawa for herring, panla for hake. "Titus" can mean Atlantic mackerel or chub mackerel: our offers always state the species and its Latin name.
Do you supply frozen chicken, turkey, pork or beef to Nigeria?
No. Unprocessed poultry, pork and beef are on Nigeria's import prohibition list. For Nigeria we offer fish only.
Do you offer tilapia, catfish or other farmed fish?
No. Nigerian policy does not allow imports of frozen farmed fish, and NAFDAC restated in 2024 that frozen catfish imports are banned. We offer wild-caught fish only.
Which authorisations does the importer need?
A fish import licence and allocation from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, NAFDAC's authorisation to open Form M, then Form M opened through its bank. The current procedure is confirmed by the importer and its clearing agent.
Which documents do you provide?
The origin health certificate, certificate of origin, invoice, packing list and bill of lading, plus the proforma invoice for Form M. We send them at loading.
Which ports do you deliver to?
Lagos (Apapa and Tin Can Island) and Onne.
Can you quote frozen mackerel CIF Apapa?
Yes, on request. We quote CFR by default, because Form M requires a Nigerian marine insurance certificate, so the importer insures the cargo in Nigeria. CIF is possible if the importer and its bank confirm it fits the Form M.
How long is the transit?
About 20–28 days from Northern European ports, depending on the carrier, routing and berth waiting time. The exact transit is stated in each offer.
Can the fish go through Cotonou or by road?
No. Frozen fish may not enter Nigeria through land borders. We ship by sea to Nigerian ports only.
What is the minimum order?
One full 40ft reefer container. One container can combine several fish items, within the species and quantities of the importer's allocation and NAFDAC authorisation.
Is a pre-shipment inspection required?
Nigeria applies destination inspection: the Nigeria Customs Service inspects imports on arrival. We arrange an SGS pre-shipment inspection and a temperature recorder if you request them.
How are payment terms set?
They are agreed for each contract and stated in the proforma invoice.
Sources
- NAFDAC, Guidelines for Approval of Authorization to Open Form M, PID-GDL-015-01, effective 24/9/2022
- USDA FAS, FAIRS Country Report Annual, Nigeria, NI2024-0004, 19/4/2024
- U.S. International Trade Administration, Nigeria Country Commercial Guide, Prohibited and Restricted Imports, published 6/6/2023
- Nairametrics, 4/2/2026, "FG approves digital fish import licensing" · Import Tariffs
- Germany Trade & Invest
- Central Bank of Nigeria, circular TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/006, 7/9/2020
- Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, FAQ