By Joy Baba-Yesufu
The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced that Nigerians sending parcels to the United States will henceforth pay a mandatory $80 (about ₦123,000) customs duty, effective August 29, 2025.
The agency explained that the levy, which excludes letters and documents, is in compliance with a U.S. Executive Order suspending the de minimis exemption on duty-free postal shipments.
In a notice issued Friday, NIPOST said the policy is “not unique to Nigeria but applies globally,” under the U.S. directive issued through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The regulation requires all postal operators to collect the duty at the point of dispatch.
NIPOST cautioned that the directive is already disrupting global logistics, with airlines and cargo carriers adopting stricter procedures that may cause delays. All parcels will also be subjected to U.S. customs checks upon arrival.
To mitigate the impact, the postal service said it is engaging with the Universal Postal Union (UPU), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and airline partners. It assured customers of its commitment to “safe, reliable, and efficient postal and courier services despite the global regulatory change.”
The suspension of the de minimis rule—previously allowing goods worth up to $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free means all postal parcels will now attract a flat $80 charge, regardless of their value.
Analysts warn the policy could significantly increase costs for individuals, small businesses, and cross-border e-commerce. Earlier in April, DHL suspended business-to-consumer shipments to U.S. private addresses, citing delays and rising customs bottlenecks under the new regime.
