SONCAP Certification: What Nigerian Importers Must Know

What Is SONCAP?

SONCAP (Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme) is the mandatory certification for most regulated products imported into Nigeria, including electronics, electricals, solar panels and phone chargers.

Without a valid SONCAP certificate presented at the port, your container can be held, fined or re-exported. It is one of the first questions any serious importer asks, so work it into your buying plan from day one.

The Two-Stage Process

Stage 1: your supplier obtains a Product Certificate (PC) from an approved certification body, proving the product meets relevant Nigerian/ISO standards. This is valid for one year and can cover multiple shipments.

Stage 2: before each shipment, a Shipment Certificate (SC) is issued against the valid PC. The SC is what your clearing agent presents to Nigerian Customs for the specific container.

Practical Advice

Work only with suppliers who already have or can easily obtain a PC – ask for it before paying any deposit. CN9JA only partners with factories that can provide SONCAP-compliant documentation, so your shipment clears the port without surprises.