The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced that, effective August 29, 2025, all postal shipments from Nigeria to the United States, excluding letters and documents, will now attract a mandatory customs duty of $80 or its equivalent in naira. The development follows a new Executive Order signed by the U.S. government suspending de minimis exemptions for all international postal shipments.
In a public notice released on Friday, NIPOST explained that the directive stems from an Executive Order titled “Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries”, enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The agency emphasized that the policy is a global measure, applying to all designated postal operators worldwide and not specifically targeted at Nigeria.
According to NIPOST, the new policy means that Nigerians sending goods and parcels to the U.S.—whether for personal, family, or business purposes—will now be required to pay the additional fee before their shipments are accepted. The agency also warned that the measure could have significant implications for trade, commerce, and individual exchanges between Nigeria and the United States.
The postal service further cautioned that global logistics networks are already adjusting to the U.S. directive. Airlines and cargo carriers, it noted, have begun enforcing stricter protocols in handling shipments to America, a move that could increase both transit and processing times. NIPOST also disclosed that U.S.-bound parcels will now undergo additional Customs scrutiny upon arrival, which could compound delivery delays for recipients.
Despite these challenges, NIPOST assured customers that it was actively engaging with key stakeholders, including the Universal Postal Union, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and airline partners, to minimize disruptions. The agency pledged to continue delivering safe and efficient postal and courier services even as it adapts to what it described as a “global regulatory adjustment.”
The Punch reports that the new U.S. trade order, signed by President Donald Trump, eliminates tariff exemptions on small international packages valued at $800 or below. For years, the de minimis rule allowed low-value items to enter the U.S. duty-free, but Washington argued the system was being exploited to evade tariffs and smuggle narcotics.
Under the revised rules, incoming parcels will either face a country-specific tariff or a flat customs duty ranging from $80 to $200 per item. Although certain categories of personal items and gifts will remain exempt, the move has raised fears of rising costs for small businesses and consumers globally.
Meanwhile, several national postal services, including those in France, Germany, Italy, India, Australia, and Japan, have indicated that they will scale back or suspend most shipments to the U.S. in response to the new restrictions. Observers warn that the ripple effect may reshape global trade flows, with developing economies like Nigeria likely to feel the greatest strain.
