How Long Excavator Delivery to Nigeria Really Takes — Port-by-Port

Nigeria is the largest excavator market in Africa, but its port logistics are also among the most challenging. Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos handle 75%+ of Nigerian excavator imports, but congestion can extend clearance times by weeks.

Port-by-port breakdown

Port	Total lead time	Customs clearance	Best for
Apapa (Lagos)	8-12 weeks	10-21 days	Southwest Nigeria, Lagos metro
Tin Can Island (Lagos)	8-12 weeks	7-14 days (less congested)	Southwest, alternative to Apapa
Lekki Deep Sea	6-9 weeks	5-10 days (fastest)	New port, less congestion
Onne (Port Harcourt)	9-14 weeks	10-21 days	Niger Delta, oil and gas operations
Calabar	9-13 weeks	10-21 days	Cross River, Akwa Ibom

Tips for Nigerian buyers

Prefer Lekki Deep Sea over Apapa where possible — newer, less congested, faster clearance
Engage a vetted clearing agent at order time — we can recommend partners
Apply for NOTAP duty exemption early if mining sector — 4-6 weeks
Budget for an additional 1-2 weeks inland transport to interior states

Questions buyers ask

How long does delivery to Nigeria take?

Delivery to Nigeria typically takes 5–8 weeks via Lagos container port, including pre-export inspection (3-5 days), ocean freight, customs clearance at Lagos (Apapa / Tin Can Island), and final-mile delivery to the project site. Apapa and Tin Can Island ports handle most heavy-equipment imports. We work with established clearing agents in Lagos.

What after-sales support do you provide?

Every machine is enrolled in our service tracking programme: scheduled maintenance reminders, parts pre-positioning, 72-hour field-service response for major mechanical events, and technical hotline access. Parts inventory is held in our regional warehouse for fast dispatch.

@misc{surinameexcavators__blog_delivery_to_nigeria_port_by_port, title = {How Long Excavator Delivery to Nigeria Really Takes — Port-by-Port}, author = {Suriname Excavators}, year = {2026}, url = {https://surinameexcavators.com/blog/delivery-to-nigeria-port-by-port}, note = {Accessed: 10 June 2026} }