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The short answer
Yes. Second-hand clothing is on Nigeria's absolute import prohibition list, according to the US International Trade Administration's summary of Nigeria's prohibited imports (changed April 2025), so used clothes cannot lawfully be imported into Nigeria as commercial goods. Clothes that are your own personal effects, travelling with you and not for sale, are treated differently.
Used clothing collected in the UK through charity shops, textile banks and recyclers is often traded abroad in bales, and "bend down select" or okrika clothing is a familiar sight in Nigerian markets. So UK sellers and Nigerian buyers often ask whether bales can be shipped to Lagos. The short answer is no; the longer answer explains the lists, the personal effects exception and the risks of the workarounds people suggest.
Nigeria's two prohibition lists
- Import prohibition list
- Goods that may not be imported, as a trade policy measure. The US ITA summary includes items such as poultry, pork, beef, eggs, bagged cement, retail tomato paste, used and retreaded tyres, carpets and most footwear and bags.
- Absolute prohibition list
- Goods banned outright. The same summary lists counterfeit goods, second-hand clothing, cowries, toxic waste and some spirits.
The Nigeria Customs Service publishes the official lists, but its list page could not be opened when we checked in October 2026, so this article relies on the US ITA summary. Before any shipment, ask a licensed Nigerian clearing agent to confirm the current list.
What the ban covers in practice
- Bales and mixed used clothing for sale. Prohibited. A Nigerian buyer has no lawful way to clear them.
- Used shoes and bags. Most footwear and bags are on the import prohibition list in the same summary, so a mixed bale with shoes adds a second problem.
- Charity donations. Calling a shipment a donation does not change what the goods are.
- New clothing. Not covered by the second-hand ban, but subject to duty, import paperwork and any standards rules for textiles. Your importer needs a Form M.
Personal effects are different
Clothes you own and bring with you are personal effects, not imports for sale. TheCable reported in May 2020 that the Federal High Court in Abuja held it unlawful for Customs to charge duty on goods in a passenger's baggage that were personal or household effects not for sale, barter or exchange. That ruling is about personal goods; it does not open a route for selling used clothing. Packing extra bags of used clothes "for family" that are really for resale is still importing goods for sale.
Shipping household goods when you move back is covered in shipping a container of household goods.
The workarounds, and why they fail
- Mis-declaring goods. Describing bales as something else is a false declaration. Goods can be seized and the importer prosecuted.
- Routing through a neighbouring country. Shipping to a port elsewhere and moving goods across land borders does not make the import lawful in Nigeria.
- Hiding clothes inside other cargo. This can put the whole consignment at risk, including the lawful goods.
For a UK exporter, the commercial risk is plain: if your buyer's goods are seized, you may not be paid, and your name is on the shipping documents.
If a Nigerian buyer insists
Buyers sometimes say a shipment of used clothing has "always cleared" or that their agent "knows people at the port". That is a description of the risk, not a solution to it. Put your answer in writing: you will supply only goods that can be lawfully imported, described accurately on all documents. If the buyer wants new clothing or other permitted goods instead, ask for the Form M details before quoting and agree how you will be paid before anything ships. Keep the correspondence; if anything goes wrong later, it shows what you agreed to and what you refused.
Lawful options for UK sellers of used clothing
- Sell to buyers in countries that allow second-hand clothing imports, after checking that country's current rules.
- Sell textile waste to UK recyclers.
- If you sell new clothing to Nigeria, follow the normal import route with a Form M. See the import prohibition list for UK exporters.
Checking the list for any product
The prohibition lists change from time to time, and descriptions on them are specific. Before quoting any Nigerian buyer for any product, used or new:
- Write down the exact product description and HS code you will use on the invoice.
- Ask the buyer's licensed clearing agent to confirm in writing that the product is not on the current import or absolute prohibition list.
- Ask the buyer to confirm it can open a Form M for the goods; Sterling Bank's guidance says a Form M is mandatory for physical imports irrespective of value.
- Keep that confirmation with your export file.
If a buyer is reluctant to put any of this in writing, treat that as an answer.
The UK side
Any commercial export from the UK needs a customs export declaration and an EORI number, even if a forwarder files it, according to business.gov.uk. The declaration names the goods and destination, so it is also a record of what you shipped and where.
Where Pryme fits
If you trade lawful goods with Nigeria, a Pryme Business Account holds GBP, USD and NGN on their own account details, so payments for new clothing or other permitted goods stay in the currency they were paid in until you choose to convert.
Questions people ask
Is second-hand clothing banned in Nigeria?
Yes. The US International Trade Administration's summary of Nigeria's prohibition lists, changed April 2025, puts second-hand clothing on the absolute prohibition list.
Can I send used clothes to my family in Nigeria?
Clothes travelling as your own personal effects, not for sale, are treated differently from commercial imports. Shipping bales or quantities meant for resale is importing prohibited goods.
Are bend down select bales legal in Nigeria?
Importing second-hand clothing is prohibited, so bales cannot be lawfully cleared through Nigerian Customs.
Can I export new clothes to Nigeria?
New clothing is not covered by the second-hand ban, but duty and import paperwork apply and your importer needs a Form M. Most footwear and bags are on the import prohibition list.
Sources
- US International Trade Administration: Nigeria, prohibited and restricted imports (published 6 Jun 2023, changed 10 Apr 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- TheCable: Court rules it is unlawful for Customs to collect import duty on personal goods (14 May 2020) · accessed Oct 2026
- business.gov.uk: How to make a UK customs declaration (export) · accessed Oct 2026
- Sterling Bank: Form M FAQ (modified 13 Mar 2022) · 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.