SONCAP: Mandatory Pre-Shipment Certification
Nigeria's SONCAP (Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme) is a mandatory pre-shipment certification scheme for regulated products, including solar panels, batteries, inverters, charge controllers and other electronic goods. Before your goods can be cleared through Nigerian customs, the supplier must obtain a valid SONCAP certificate from an appointed agency such as Cotecna, whose mandate in Nigeria was renewed in 2026.
Current Import Duty and VAT
Solar panels entering Nigeria have faced around 10% total import cost since 2018 — roughly 5% customs duty plus 5% Value Added Tax. This applies at the point of import, so wholesale buyers should factor it into landed cost calculations.
Possible Duty Waivers for Energy Equipment
The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission highlights that qualifying energy-sector equipment — solar panels, batteries, inverters, charge controllers and mounting structures — may be eligible for import duty waivers and VAT exemptions under Nigeria's cross-cutting energy incentives. Importers of large solar projects should verify eligibility with a customs broker, as waivers are typically project-based rather than automatic.
What Your Supplier Must Provide
A compliant shipment needs: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin, and the product test certificates required for the SONCAP application. Working with a supplier who handles SONCAP-ready documentation saves weeks of delay at Lagos customs. Tell us what you plan to import — CN9JA supplies solar and phone accessories with full export and certification documentation.