How do I receive goods from China if I'm not in Lagos?
Updated · By the Import2Sales team
Short answer
Most China cargo lands in Lagos first, so you have three main ways to get it: pick it up yourself at your agent's Lagos or Abuja office, have it sent on an interstate park/transport waybill, or pay for courier door delivery to your address. Each trades cost against speed and risk, so pick per order.
What are my options for receiving goods if I'm not in Lagos?
You have three realistic routes, because almost all China cargo clears through Lagos (Apapa or Tin Can) before anything moves inland. A few forwarders also discharge directly at Port Harcourt or Onne, which shortens the trip for the South-South and South-East.
The three routes are: travelling to your agent's Lagos or Abuja warehouse to collect it, using an interstate motor-park or transport-company waybill for the final leg, or paying the agent (or a courier like GIG or DHL) to deliver to your door. Which one wins depends on the value of your goods, how fast you need them, and how much risk you can carry on the road.
Ways to receive China goods outside Lagos (as of 2026-10; confirm exact fees with your agent)
| Option | Relative cost | Speed | Risk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick up at Lagos/Abuja warehouse | Lowest (transport + your time) | Same day you travel | Low (you hold the goods) | Big orders, or sellers who can travel |
| Interstate park / transport waybill | Low | 1-2 days after it leaves | Medium-high (loose paperwork, no insurance) | Cheap, non-fragile stock to any state |
| Courier door delivery (agent or GIG/DHL) | Highest | 1-4 days, tracked | Low (tracked, often insured) | Fragile, high-value or urgent items |
How does picking up at a Lagos or Abuja warehouse work?
Your agent clears the cargo, then holds it at their Lagos (or sometimes Abuja) warehouse and notifies you to collect. You travel down, show your invoice or tracking code, inspect the goods, and carry them back yourself by road or flight.
This is the cheapest and lowest-risk option because you physically hold your goods the whole way home and skip a second handler. The catch is your time and transport fare. It makes sense when the order is large enough that the trip pays for itself, or when you already visit Lagos regularly for stock.
How does the interstate park or transport waybill option work?
Your agent (or someone you trust in Lagos) takes the parcel to a motor park or transport company like GUO, God is Good, or ABC, pays a waybill fee, and gives you the waybill number. You collect from the park nearest you when the vehicle arrives, usually one to two days later.
Sending parcels through commercial drivers at motor parks is a long-standing Nigerian practice, and goods often move the same or next day (New Telegraph). It is cheap and reaches almost every state, but the paperwork is loose: the waybill is sometimes kept by the transporter without a signed receipt, and goods are often left with a park manager rather than handed to you directly (Intercity). Insist on a stamped, signed waybill listing the package count, and keep the driver's phone number.
How does courier door delivery work?
A courier picks the parcel up in Lagos and delivers to your address with a tracking number. Some China forwarders arrange this onward leg for you after clearing; otherwise you use a local interstate courier such as GIG Logistics, or an international one like DHL.
This costs the most but carries the least risk, because the shipment is tracked and often insured, and nobody but the courier touches it. Use it for fragile, high-value or urgent goods where a lost park parcel would wipe out your profit. Always confirm the courier's liability limit before you ship.
How do consolidation and clearing actually happen first?
Before any of these routes, your order is consolidated in China (combined with other buyers' boxes into one shipment), flown or shipped to Nigeria, de-consolidated at the Lagos port, and cleared through customs. Only after clearing can it move inland.
For most mini importers the agent or forwarder handles all of this inside a single per-kilo price, so you never see the port. If you arrange your own freight you become the consignee, and accurate documents — a commercial invoice, packing list and HS codes — are what prevent customs delays (Sino Shipping). Air freight is charged by weight; the ₦13,000/kg figure often used for planning is an Import2Sales default assumption, so confirm the current rate with your agent at booking as freight prices move with fuel and FX.
Which option is cheapest, fastest, and safest for me?
There is no single best answer, so match the route to the order. For bulky, low-value stock where a lost box is survivable, the park waybill wins on cost. For fragile or expensive items, courier door delivery is worth the extra naira. If you move large volumes and can travel, collecting in Lagos yourself is usually cheapest overall.
Whatever you choose, build the receiving cost into your selling price before you advertise. Use the free Import2Sales Product Opportunity Checker at /check to add your landed cost plus the delivery leg and see your real profit and margin per unit, so a waybill or courier fee does not quietly eat your gain.
Does the route change depending on my state?
Yes. The last leg from Lagos depends heavily on where you live: a seller in Ibadan can collect in person in a few hours, while someone in Maiduguri relies almost entirely on a trusted park or courier. South-South and South-East sellers should also ask whether their agent can discharge at Port Harcourt or Onne to skip the Lagos road trip.
Our state-by-state hub at /mini-importation covers the local arrival routes, reliable parks and courier coverage for each state, so check your own state page before you ship. Once your goods arrive, turn each product into a mobile sales page with a one-tap WhatsApp order button using Import2Sales (/product-link-to-sales-page), and sell while the stock is still in your hands.
Frequently asked questions
I'm in Enugu. How do I get my China goods from Lagos?
Most Enugu sellers use an interstate transport-company waybill from Lagos, arriving in a day or two, or pay for courier door delivery if the goods are fragile. Ask your agent whether they can discharge cargo at Port Harcourt or Onne instead, which shortens the South-East road leg considerably. Confirm costs with your agent first.
I'm in Kano. Is a park waybill safe for my goods?
A park or transport-company waybill is the common and cheap route to Kano, but it carries medium-high risk because paperwork is loose and goods are rarely insured. For a long route like Lagos to Kano, insist on a stamped, signed waybill with the package count, keep the driver's number, and consider a tracked courier for anything fragile or high-value.
Do all China goods have to pass through Lagos first?
Mostly yes. The great majority of air and sea cargo clears at Lagos (Apapa or Tin Can) before moving inland, though Nigerian imports also enter through Port Harcourt and Calabar. A few forwarders discharge directly at Port Harcourt or Onne, which helps the South-South and South-East. Ask your agent which port they use before you assume everything routes through Lagos.
Who pays for clearing and customs duty?
If your agent gives one per-kilo price, clearing and duty are usually inside it, so you pay nothing extra at the port. If you arrange your own freight, you are the consignee and you pay clearing, VAT (7.5% standard rate in 2026) and any duty yourself. Always ask whether a quote is 'all-in to my door' or 'to Lagos only'.
How much does it cost to send goods from Lagos to my state?
It depends on weight, distance and route. A park waybill is usually the cheapest, a tracked courier costs more, and collecting in person costs only your transport fare. Confirm the exact fee with the park or courier, and add it to your landed cost in the Import2Sales checker so your selling price still leaves a profit.
Should I use a courier or a motor park for valuable items?
For fragile, high-value or urgent items, use a tracked courier such as GIG or DHL rather than a motor park. Couriers give you tracking and often insurance, so a loss is covered. Motor parks are cheaper but carry loose paperwork and no insurance, which is fine for bulky, low-value stock but risky for expensive goods.
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