Export documents & procedures

The first step of your export procedure is registration as an exporter with NEPC. In order to venture into export business this is required. In summary:

• Document issued – exporter’s certificate
• Issued by – NEPC
• Relevancce  – it licenses you as exporter and makes you eligible for NEPC-benefits

To obtain this document, visit our e-registration page.

An export contract is an agreement between seller and buyer on the terms of export business:

• Document issued – a signed export contract
• Issued by – you as exporter and the importer
• Relevance – it spells out the obligations of buyer and seller

Quality assurance documents help you to ensure your exported goods conform to safety measures (as stated by international conventions and possibly agreed terms of the contract). Using international recognised bodies is very important. Relevant documents include:

• phytosanitary certificate for agricultural commodities (issued by NAQS)
• health certificate for processed and semi-processed food items (issued by NAFDAC)
• international veterinary certificate for animals and animal products (issued by DVPCS)
• fumigation certificate for agricultural commodities (issued by FPIS, part of FMITI)

For more information on Quality Competent Authorities (QCAs) and the associated documents, Check out  detailed information about QCAs!

The commercial documents display product values and quantities. The documents are both prepared and issued by the exporter and include:

• Porforma Invoice – An offer by an exporter to sell specified goods for a certain price and at certain terms in a formal manner.
• Commercial invoice – indicating the value of goods for export in the currency of transaction
• Packing list – indicating the unit packaging and total quantity of goods intended for exports

The preparation of financial documents shows evidence of financial transaction between buyer and seller. It also shows conformance with the financial regulation for exports. It includes:

• Document issued – Nigeria Export Proceed form (NXP)
• Issued by – commercial bank
• Relevance – it captures the value of the export transaction for economic development purposes. It is also a major prerequisite for accessing the Export Expansion Grant (export incentive)

• Document issued – commercial invoice
• Issued by – you as exporter
• Relevance – it indicates the value of the goods for export in currency of transaction. It is also useful for processing the NXP

• Document issued – final invoice
• Issued by – you as exporter
• Relevance – it indicates the actual value of the goods exported in currency of transaction for the purpose of payment by the importer

This deals with all aspects of the delivery of goods to the buyer in the medium specified in the export contract. Documents involved include:

• Document issued – Clean Certificate of Inspection (CCI)
• Issued by – government appointed Pre-Shipment Inspection Agencies (PIAs)
• Relevance – it ascertains the quality, quantity and price competitiveness of Nigerian exports

• Document issued – Certificate of Weight and Quality
• Issued by – independent quality assessors (e.g. SGS, Bureau Veritas) agreed by seller and buyer
• Relevance – it ensure the goods conform to the quality standards and weight as stated in the contract

• Document issued – Certificate of Origin
• Issued by – National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA)
• Relevance – it indicates the origin of goods, needed for e.g. trade agreement benefits

• Document issued – Bill of Lading (shipping document)
• Issued by – shipping agencies
• Relevance – it indicates the details of goods transported by sea

• Document issued – Air Way Bill (shipping document) 
• Issued by – airlines
• Relevance – it indicates the details of goods transported by air

• Document issued – Road Transport Bill (shipping document)
• Issued by – logistics companies
• Relevance – it indicates the details of goods transported by road