The presidency on Friday, confirmed that Nigerians would pay a mandatory prepaid customs duty of $80 or its naira equivalent on postal shipments from Nigeria to the United States of America.
The Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, who made the clarification, however, explained that the payment stems from a recent policy change by the U.S. Government under the Executive Order on “Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries.”
He clarified that the policy did not originate from the Tinubu government, and Nigeria is not the only country subject to the new policies.
He wrote on , “Quick clarification, the new charges ($80) stem from a recent policy change by the U.S. Government under the Executive Order on “Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries” pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
“This Executive Order applies to all postal operators and designated postal administrations worldwide, and the payment of the additional duty affects all global postal inflows into the United States, not just those from Nigeria.”
News360 info reports that the clarification follows an earlier announcement on Friday by the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) that, with effect from August 29, 2025, all postal shipments from Nigeria to the United States, except letters and documents, will attract a mandatory prepaid customs duty of $80 or its naira equivalent.
In a public notice to its customers, NIPOST explained that the new charges stem from a recent Executive Order signed by the Government of the United States of America suspending de minimis exemptions for all postal shipments globally.
The directive, it said, was issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
“The Nigerian Postal Service wishes to inform our esteemed customers of a recent policy change by the Government of the United States of America, enacted through the Executive Order on ‘Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries’ under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act,” the notice read.
NIPOST added that global logistics operations were already adjusting to the policy, with airlines and cargo carriers adopting stricter protocols in handling shipments destined for America.
The notice further stated that all U.S.-bound items would undergo additional Customs checks on arrival. This, officials said, may compound waiting times for recipients.
