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The short answer
Aba makers reach buyers outside the city in three main ways: wholesalers who come to Ariaria and the workshop clusters, goods sent by road to buyers in Lagos and Onitsha, and cross-border sales to buyers in countries such as Cameroon and Ghana. Formal exporters register with the NEPC (₦13,500 for a new certificate, per the NEPC e-registration page, Oct 2026), file an NXP and, under the CBN's January 2025 circular, must bring non-oil export proceeds home within 180 days. Whatever the route, agree terms in writing and release goods only against money confirmed in your account.
Aba's shoes, bags, garments and leather goods travel far beyond the city. Many leave in the boots of wholesalers' cars or on the roofs of buses; some go by truck to the big trading markets; a share crosses borders. The maker's challenge is the same on every route: reach more buyers without being left with unpaid invoices, damaged goods or a fake payment alert. This guide covers the routes, the costs to plan for, the payment terms in common use and the paperwork for formal export. Statements about who buys what are what traders commonly report, not official trade data.
The main routes to buyers
| Route | How it works | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers come to Aba | Wholesalers visit Ariaria and workshops, inspect goods and pay on the spot | Pressure to give credit to a regular buyer |
| Sending to Lagos and Onitsha | Goods go by road through transport companies or parcel services to a buyer or agent | Damage or loss in transit; payment delays |
| Agents and consolidators | An agent gathers goods from several makers for a buyer and takes a commission | Unclear commission; agent holds the buyer's money |
| Online and social media sales | Orders come through WhatsApp or Instagram and ship by courier | Fake payment proof; returns |
| Cross-border sales | Buyers in neighbouring and West African countries order directly or through traders | Currency, customs, longer payment times |
Most makers combine two or three routes. Selling to visiting buyers keeps cash flowing; sending goods out reaches buyers who will not travel. For how wholesale buyers deal with makers in the city, see buying Aba-made goods wholesale.
Payment terms and what each risks
- Full payment before dispatch: the safest for the maker. New buyers should expect it.
- Deposit and balance: a deposit to start production, the balance before goods leave Aba. Common for custom orders.
- Balance on delivery: the buyer pays the rest when goods arrive. The maker carries transit and payment risk.
- Credit or consignment: goods now, payment after the buyer sells. Only for buyers with a long record, and with a written limit.
Example: a buyer in Lagos orders 200 pairs of sandals at ₦6,500 a pair, ₦1,300,000 in total. On a 50% deposit, the maker receives ₦650,000 before cutting and ₦650,000 before dispatch. If the maker instead accepts 30% upfront and 70% on delivery, ₦910,000 is at risk while the goods are on the road and with the buyer. The prices are examples only.
Logistics costs to plan for
No official body publishes freight rates from Aba, and transport companies change prices with fuel. Ask at least two carriers for a written quote by bag, carton or weight. Costs to include in your price:
- Packing: cartons, sacks, nylon and tape.
- Loading and offloading fees at both ends.
- Transport to the buyer's city, or to the border.
- Insurance. NEM Insurance's goods-in-transit page, for example, describes cover for goods moved by road within Nigeria, including loading and unloading, and says imports and exports fall under marine insurance instead.
- Agent's commission, if an agent arranged the sale.
Example: if sending 10 cartons costs ₦40,000 in transport, ₦5,000 in packing and ₦5,000 in loading, the ₦50,000 total spread over 200 pairs adds ₦250 a pair. Build it into the price, or agree in writing that the buyer pays carriage.
Formal export: the paperwork
Selling to a buyer abroad as a registered business follows a set path. The main steps, from the sources below:
- Register with the NEPC. The Nigerian Export Promotion Council's e-registration page lists the documents for limited companies and cooperatives, a new certificate fee of ₦13,500 (excluding Remita and bank charges), and validity of 24 months before annual renewal. See registering with the NEPC.
- File the NXP. The CBN replaced the paper NXP form with the electronic e-Form NXP in October 2019, filed through your bank on the trade monitoring system with a valid TIN, as Deloitte summarised. Check the current processing fee with your bank. See the NXP form explained.
- Bring the money home on time. Under a CBN circular of January 2025, non-oil export proceeds must be repatriated within 180 days of the bill of lading date, with no extensions. See the repatriation rules.
- VAT. Under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, as summarised by Mondaq in May 2026, exported goods other than oil and gas are zero-rated.
Trade within West Africa can also benefit from regional trade agreements; see AfCFTA for exporters. These points are information, not advice; a customs agent or your bank's trade desk can confirm what applies to your goods.
Payment proof that holds
Faraway buyers often pay by transfer and send a screenshot. A screenshot is not money. Before goods leave Aba:
- Check that the credit has landed in your account, in your banking app, not from an SMS or picture.
- Match the amount, sender name and date to the invoice.
- Issue an invoice with the buyer's name, quantities, price, delivery terms and who pays carriage.
- Send the buyer a receipt for each payment and keep the waybill for each dispatch.
For more on this, see is a transfer receipt proof of payment?
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Business Account holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR, with local account details for each, so a buyer abroad paying in one of those currencies can pay into an account in that currency; money stays in the currency it arrived in until you choose to Swap. You can send buyers a regular or verifiable receipt through VerifyDoc.ai, which anyone can check is genuine and unaltered; see receipts and the Business Account.
Questions people ask
How do Aba traders send goods to Lagos?
Most use transport companies or parcel services by road. Get a written quote, pack well, keep the waybill and consider goods-in-transit insurance.
Do I need NEPC registration to sell to buyers abroad?
For formal exports through a bank with an NXP, yes. The NEPC's page lists a ₦13,500 fee for a new certificate, excluding Remita and bank charges, as at Oct 2026.
How long do I have to bring export money back to Nigeria?
Under the CBN's January 2025 circular, non-oil export proceeds must be repatriated within 180 days of the bill of lading date.
Should I give credit to a buyer in Onitsha or Lagos?
Only to buyers with a long payment record, with a written limit and terms. New buyers should pay in full, or a deposit and the balance, before dispatch.
Sources
- NEPC: Exporter e-registration · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq (Deloitte): CBN automates the export process with e-Form NXP · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq: CBN suspension of time extension for repatriation of export proceeds (Feb 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq: VAT provisions under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (28 May 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- NEM Insurance: Goods-in-transit insurance · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.