By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
Nigerians sending parcels to the United States through the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), will now pay a mandatory $80 prepaid customs duty, a move that could heavily affect individuals and small businesses.
The new levy, which took effect on August 29, 2025, follows a U.S. Executive Order suspending the long-standing de minimis exemption.
The exemption had allowed goods valued below $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free.
Enforced under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the order compels postal services worldwide, including NIPOST, to collect the duty upfront. Letters and documents remain exempt.
The regulation has already triggered delays and tighter scrutiny for U.S.-bound parcels.
NIPOST disclosed that it is in discussions with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to minimize disruptions.
Analysts warn the policy will raise costs for Nigeria’s e-commerce sector and ordinary citizens who rely on international shipping.
It also comes just months after logistics giant DHL temporarily suspended some U.S.-bound shipments in response to similar regulatory pressures.
