Nigeria Spare Parts Import Restrictions — What Every Importer Needs to Know

There is an important distinction that many importers confuse. Nigeria has two types of import restrictions:

Absolute import prohibition — goods that cannot be imported into Nigeria under any circumstances, enforced by Nigeria Customs under the Customs and Excise Management Act. The prohibited list includes items such as weapons, certain chemicals, and specific agricultural products. New genuine motorcycle and 3-wheeler spare parts are not on this list.

CBN forex exclusion list — goods for which the CBN will not provide official foreign exchange through the official banking window. This does not mean the goods are illegal to import — it means you cannot buy forex through your bank to pay for them. You must source forex through other legitimate means (Bureau de Change, export proceeds, etc.). This list has been revised several times since 2015 and currently includes items the CBN considers non-essential or locally producible.

For practical purposes, verify the current CBN forex exclusion list with your bank before opening a Form M — the list changes, and your bank's trade finance desk will have the current version.

The importation of used (tokunbo) spare parts into Nigeria is a complex and frequently changing area. The Nigerian government has periodically introduced restrictions on used parts imports to protect local industries and reduce the influx of substandard recycled components.

The key principle for importers: new aftermarket-compatible spare parts manufactured in India are not subject to used parts restrictions. The restrictions target second-hand, removed-from-vehicle parts — not new production parts that happen to be aftermarket rather than OEM-branded.

However, the way goods are described on the commercial invoice matters. Vague descriptions like "engine parts" without specifying "new" can attract scrutiny during examination. CrestMAX invoices all goods as "new aftermarket-compatible spare parts" with specific part descriptions — this is the correct declaration for the goods we supply.

If you are sourcing used parts from any supplier, understand that: - Nigerian Customs may refuse entry or levy penalties - SON may require inspection - Counterfeit goods laws apply regardless of whether the parts are new or used

Nigeria is a signatory to international intellectual property conventions and has domestic trademark law under the Trade Marks Act. The Nigerian Customs Service is empowered to seize goods that infringe registered trademarks.

What this means practically for spare parts importers:

Goods marked with OEM brand names (Bajaj, TVS, Honda) when they are not OEM products are counterfeit. Importing them exposes you to seizure, destruction of goods, and potential criminal liability. This applies regardless of whether the underlying part is good quality — the issue is the false trademark, not the quality.

Genuine aftermarket-compatible parts with generic or supplier branding are legal. CrestMAX supplies parts that are compatible with Bajaj, TVS, and Hero vehicles but are not labelled with those brands. The parts are described accurately as aftermarket-compatible — this is the correct legal position.

The practical test: if your supplier's invoice says "Bajaj Original Parts" but the parts did not come from Bajaj's authorised supply chain, they are misdescribed. At customs examination, an experienced NCS officer may identify this and the goods can be seized. Always insist on accurate labelling and description from your supplier.

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has authority to set and enforce minimum standards for products sold in Nigeria. For spare parts, SON's enforcement focus has historically been on:

• —Tyres and tubes — Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) applies; non-compliant tyres can be seized at ports
• —Electrical components — CDI units, voltage regulators, and lighting assemblies are on the regulated products list
• —Batteries — motorcycle and 3-wheeler batteries are regulated

SON operates inspection desks at major ports. Shipments of regulated products without a SONCAP certificate are subject to destination inspection, which is slower and more expensive than pre-shipment inspection.

For mechanical spare parts (pistons, gaskets, bearings, clutch plates, brake shoes, chains), SON enforcement has been less active in practice — but the regulatory framework exists. Keep documentation of your supplier's quality processes (ISO certification, factory audit reports) in case of future enforcement changes.

• —Only import new, correctly described spare parts — not used/removed-from-vehicle components
• —Ensure your supplier's invoice describes goods accurately with no OEM brand names unless goods are genuinely OEM
• —Obtain SONCAP for regulated categories (electrical parts, tyres, batteries) before shipment
• —Verify the current CBN forex exclusion list with your bank before opening Form M for any new product category
• —Work with a clearing agent who knows spare parts classification — misclassification at customs is your liability, not your agent's
• —Keep copies of your supplier's IEC certificate, GST registration, and any quality certifications — useful if goods are queried at examination