Trade war: Nigerian cargo, courier companies groan

70% of shipments refused entry in US

Despite the three-month pause on all  ‘reciprocal’ tariffs by the United States, there seems to be no respite yet for Nigerian exporters as they presently grapple with the challenge of shipping goods to the US.

Since the full enforcement of the new tariff regulations in April 2025, Nigerian Tribune learnt that cargo and courier companies have been having difficulties, getting clearance into the United States.

The development, Nigerian Tribune further learnt, has resulted in serious crisis for exporters, especially those into the logistics and courier business.

For instance, since the pronouncement of the new trade tariff by President Donald Trump, more than 70 percent of shipments from Nigeria to the U.S via airports have either been refused entry or placed on hold.

Confirming the development, the Chief Commercial Officer of AAJ Express Logistics Limited Lagos, Ini Daniel, whose logistics company is also affected by the development, noted that it has been tough moving goods into the US since the beginning of April, when the full enforcement of the new tariff regime commenced.

The development, which he noted as alarming, has caused substantial delays, thereby creating immense challenges for shippers and importers operating in the U.S market.

He stated that the Aviation industry is also grappling with its own fair share of the ordeal since carriers are now forced to offer significant discounts, or even free returns, due to the chaos surrounding tariff enforcement.

“Adding to the frustration is the fact that exporters are left in a fog of confusion, as officials have not provided clear explanations for the refusals,” he added.

He, however, acknowledged that the dilemma is not unique to Nigeria since exporters from various European nations, China, and other African countries are similarly affected by the new regulations.

Ini, therefore, advised Nigerian exporters to follow experts’ advice of temporarily suspending shipments to the U.S. until clearer guidelines are established from its (U.S). Customs, especially with the uncertainty in the air and exporters anxiously awaiting clarity on demand.

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