Starting from August 29, 2025, Nigerians will be required to pay a customs duty of $80 (or its equivalent in naira) for every package sent to the United States, the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced.
This new rule, however, does not apply to letters or documents, which will remain exempt from the fee.
The change comes as a result of a recent Executive Order by the United States government, which suspended the “de minimis” exemption for all postal shipments coming into the country. This exemption had previously allowed low-value goods to enter the US without paying customs duty.
In a circular released on Friday and reported by News360 Nigeria, NIPOST explained the decision and how it would impact Nigerian customers.
“With effect from August 29, 2025, and in compliance with the Executive Order, all postal items to the United States, except for letters and documents, will now attract a prepaid customs duty of $80 (or its naira equivalent) at the point of acceptance in Nigeria,” the statement read.
The agency said the policy is part of a global shift in customs and shipping regulations, and Nigeria must comply to continue sending items to the United States through postal channels.
NIPOST also warned that shipping delays may occur as airline and cargo operators are taking more cautious steps when handling packages going to the United States. This means longer processing and transit times for US-bound shipments.
“Global logistics operations are also being affected, as airline and cargo carriers adopt more cautious measures in handling US-bound shipments. This may extend both transit and processing times, potentially resulting in delivery delays,” NIPOST stated.
In addition to longer shipping times, all packages will now be subject to customs checks when they arrive in the United States, which could further delay final delivery to recipients.
To reduce the impact of this new policy on customers, NIPOST says it is working with several international partners.
“NIPOST is actively engaging with the Universal Postal Union (UPU), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and our airline partners to minimise service disruptions and safeguard customer experience,” the circular added.
NIPOST reassured Nigerians that despite the new challenges, it remains committed to delivering safe and reliable postal services.
“We reassure our customers that NIPOST remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and efficient postal and courier services despite this global regulatory shift,” the agency said.
The “de minimis” rule is a policy that allows goods below a certain value to enter a country without paying customs duties. In the US, this threshold used to be $800, but the new Executive Order has removed this exemption for postal shipments, meaning every package—no matter its value—now attracts a flat duty.
With Nigeria’s strong diaspora ties and growing e-commerce market, this change is likely to affect both small businesses and individuals who rely on shipping goods to family, friends, or customers in the US.
