The Nigerian Postal Service [NIPOST] has announced that, effective August 29, 2025, all mail shipments from Nigeria to the U.S—excluding letters and official documents—will incur a compulsory prepaid customs fee of $80 or its naira equivalent.
In a public announcement to its clientele on Friday, NIPOST clarified that the newly implemented charges arise from a recent Executive Order enacted by the United States Government, which has revoked de minimis exemptions for all postal shipments worldwide.
The directive was proclaimed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
“The Nigerian Postal Service wishes to notify our valued customers of a recent policy modification by the United States Government, enacted through the Executive Order on ‘Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries’ under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act,” the announcement read.
According to NIPOST, this decision by Washington is applicable to all designated postal operators globally and is not restricted to Nigeria.
“This Executive Order pertains to all postal operators and designated postal administrations internationally, and the imposition of the additional duty influences all global postal arrivals into the United States, not just those from Nigeria,” it further added.
The agency indicated that this new regulation will significantly impact Nigerians sending parcels and merchandise to family, friends, and business associates in the U.S.
It cautioned that global logistics operations are already adapting to the policy, with airlines and freight carriers implementing stricter protocols for managing shipments destined for America.
Global logistics operations are also being influenced, as airline and cargo carriers adopt more vigilant measures in processing U.S.-bound shipments. This may prolong both transit and processing durations, leading to potential delivery delays,” NIPOST commented.
The announcement continued, stating that all items destined for the U.S. would face heightened Customs inspections upon arrival. Officials noted that this may exacerbate waiting times for recipients.
NIPOST, however, reassured customers that it is proactively collaborating with international partners to mitigate the impact.
“NIPOST is actively working with the Universal Postal Union, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and our airline partners to lessen service interruptions and protect customer satisfaction,” the agency stated.
The postal service reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining efficient and dependable service delivery despite what it described as a “global regulatory adjustment.”
It concluded, “We assure our customers that NIPOST remains dedicated to providing safe, trustworthy, and efficient postal and courier services despite this global regulatory change.”
The PUNCH reports that the United States on Friday abolished tariff exemptions on small packages entering the country from overseas, prompting concerns among small businesses and warnings of rising consumer prices.
President Donald Trump’s administration justified the end of duty-free treatment for parcels valued at or under $800 by citing the use of low-value shipments to evade tariffs and smuggle drugs.
Going forward, packages will either be subject to the applicable tariff level according to their country of origin or incur a specific duty ranging from $80 to $200 per item. However, exemptions for particular personal items and gifts persist.
Trump’s trade advisor, Peter Navarro, informed reporters that closing this “loophole” aids in restricting the flow of “narcotics and other dangerous and prohibited substances” while generating additional tariff revenue.
Nonetheless, the monthlong timeframe provided by Trump’s order has prompted a frenzy.
Postal services, including those in France, Germany, Italy, India, Australia, and Japan, previously indicated that most U.S.-bound packages would no longer be accepted.