01 · Two-minute diagnostic↗
Operator pulse
Compare the FX rate your business can access and its replacement-cost pressure with the current operator sample.
No account requiredReference desk · public access
Operating in Nigeria
The agencies, documents, fees, and timelines behind business procedures—structured into executable steps, with direct application, requirement, fee, form, and status routes separated clearly.
- Procedures
- 66
- Sourced steps
- 262
- Task groups
- 627 sectors
Source currency is visible, not implied.
Every procedure was sourced on or after 10 July 2026. All citation links were last machine-checked 20 September 2026; unresolved links are labelled on the step.
Interactive tools
Free · source-linkedTest the operating decision
02 · Shipment economics↗
Landed-cost calculator
Model the full port stack across 5 sourced charges, with each levy applied to its correct base.
5 charge components03 · Permit routing↗
NAFDAC or SON?
Search the 35 HS chapters in the two permit regimes that catch most consumer imports.
2 regulators mappedAction-linked knowledge base
66 totalAll procedures
Showing 66 procedures
Trade & mobilityTrade
Export goods from Nigeria
Procedure to export commercial goods from Nigeria: NEPC exporter registration → product/quality certificates (NAQS phytosanitary for produce) → Certificate of Origin → Form NXP via bank → Customs shipment → repatriate proceeds.
Trade & mobilityTrade
Import goods into Nigeria
End-to-end regulatory procedure to import commercial goods into Nigeria: prohibition check → agency permits → e-Form M → SONCAP → PAAR → duty & clearance.
Land & premisesEnvironment
Obtain an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate
Get an EIA certificate from the Federal Ministry of Environment for a new project: registration → site verification → EIA study → public display → panel review → approval. Category I projects need a full EIA.
Start & structureBusiness
Register a trademark
Protect a brand at the Trademarks, Patents & Designs Registry: search → file via accredited agent → examination → Journal publication → opposition → certificate.
People & practiceEducation
Establish a private school
Get approval to run a private primary/secondary school: incorporate (with a TRCN-certified director) → apply to the State Ministry of Education → facilities inspection → academic inspection & approval certificate.
People & practiceEducation
Establish a private university (NUC)
Obtain an NUC licence to establish a private university via the 14-step SCOPU process: declaration of intent → application & documents → interactive meeting & verification visits → 3-year Provisional Licence.
Trade & mobilityTrade
Import a vehicle into Nigeria
Import and clear a vehicle: confirm age eligibility → NCS VIN valuation → pay duty + levies (often 70-100%+ of value) → clear at port. Distinct from general goods import because of the age limit, VIN valuation, and NAC levy.
Sector licencesHealth
Import controlled substances / precursor chemicals (NAFDAC)
Obtain a NAFDAC permit to import narcotics, psychotropics or precursor chemicals for medical/scientific use (NDLEA shares diversion control): register → compliant storage → apply for the import permit → permit issued.
Trade & mobilityTransport
License a driving school (FRSC)
Get FRSC accreditation to run a driving school: meet minimum standards → submit TSC 0001a → inspection & HQ approval → certificate of operation (renewed annually).
Trade & mobilityLogistics
License a freight-forwarding / clearing agent (CRFFN)
License a clearing & forwarding business: incorporate → register with CRFFN → obtain a Customs Agent licence → register with the NPA.
Sector licencesSecurity
License a private security company (NSCDC)
License a private guard company with the NSCDC (Ministry of Interior): incorporate → apply to the Commandant-General → insurance/NSITF/training → category licence.
Sector licencesAgriculture
License a seed company (NASC)
Produce, process or market agricultural seed lawfully: register with the National Agricultural Seeds Council under the NASC Act 2019 → facility inspection → licence (valid 1 year, renewable). Seed lots are separately certified/labelled by NASC.
Sector licencesTourism
License a travel agency (NCAA/NANTA/IATA)
License a travel agency for ticketing/travel operations: incorporate → apply to the NCAA → join NANTA → NCAA certificate then IATA accreditation.
Sector licencesMedia
License an advertising agency (ARCON)
License an advertising agency with ARCON/APCON: register individual practitioners → corporate documents (RPA CEO) → agency insurance → corporate licence & ad approvals.
Sector licencesEnergy
License an LPG (cooking gas) plant (NMDPRA)
Build and operate an LPG retail/storage plant under NMDPRA's three-stage downstream regime: Licence to Establish (site suitability, 18 months) → Approval/Licence to Construct (30 months) → Licence to Operate. Distinct from a petrol filling station licence.
Sector licencesMedia
License film distribution / exhibition (NFVCB)
Distribute or exhibit film and video works lawfully: incorporate and meet the share-capital floor for the licence category (community/regional/national/online) → obtain the NFVCB distributor or exhibitor licence → submit each film for censorship and classification → Censorship Certificate before release.
Land & premisesEnvironment
Obtain a borehole / water-use permit (NIWRMC)
License commercial-scale water abstraction/borehole drilling under the Water Resources Act: confirm a permit is needed → engage an accredited driller → apply to NIWRMC/state water agency → permit.
Sector licencesMedia
Obtain a broadcasting licence (NBC)
License a radio/TV or satellite broadcasting station with the National Broadcasting Commission: request & buy the form → submit feasibility & business plan → processing and approval → pay the category licence fee (5-year term).
Land & premisesConstruction
Obtain a building plan / planning permit (state)
Get a planning permit before building. In Lagos the permit is issued by LASPPPA under the Physical Planning Permit Regulations 2019: land title & survey → architectural and engineering drawings → submission and assessment → processing fee → permit within 28 days; construction is then supervised by LASBCA.
Finance & capitalFinance
Obtain a Bureau de Change licence (CBN)
License a BDC with the CBN under the 2024 Guidelines (Tier 1 or Tier 2): choose tier → Approval-in-Principle → Provisional Approval & integration → Final Approval.
Finance & capitalFinance
Obtain a commercial/merchant bank licence (CBN)
License a deposit money bank with the Central Bank of Nigeria: choose the licence authorisation (regional, national or international) → deposit the minimum paid-up capital → Approval-in-Principle → final licence. Capital floors were reset in March 2024 with a 31 March 2026 compliance deadline.
Trade & mobilityLogistics
Obtain a courier/logistics licence (NIPOST)
License a courier & logistics operation under the NIPOST Courier and Logistics Services Regulations 2020: incorporate → apply to Postmaster-General → submit requirements → pay category licence fee.
Sector licencesEnergy
Obtain a filling-station (retail outlet) licence
License a petrol filling station with NMDPRA under the PIA 2021: site suitability → Approval to Construct → build + witnessed tank test → storage & retail outlet licence.
Finance & capitalFinance
Obtain a microfinance bank licence (CBN)
License a microfinance bank with the Central Bank of Nigeria: pre-licensing presentation → Approval-in-Principle (deposit capital) → incorporate & meet conditions → CBN inspection & final licence.
Sector licencesMining
Obtain a mineral title / mining licence
Acquire a mineral title from the Mining Cadastre Office (reconnaissance permit, exploration licence, small-scale or full mining lease, quarry lease): choose title → apply at MCO → pay fees → grant (first-come, first-served on area).
Finance & capitalFinance
Obtain a money lender's licence (state)
License a money-lending business under a State Money Lenders Law (e.g. Lagos): incorporate & meet capital → apply to the Chief Magistrate → apply to the State Ministry of Home Affairs → annual licence.
Finance & capitalFinance
Obtain a payment service (fintech) licence (CBN)
License a payment company with the CBN: choose category (Switching, MMO, PSSP, PTSP, Super-Agent) → deposit capital & apply → Approval-in-Principle → final licence.
Finance & capitalFinance
Obtain a Pension Fund Administrator licence (PENCOM)
License a PFA with the National Pension Commission under the Pension Reform Act 2014: incorporate a dedicated company → apply & deposit capital → Approval-in-Principle → operating licence.
People & practiceLabour
Obtain a recruiter's licence (private employment agency)
License a recruitment/manpower agency with the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment — domestic or international placement: incorporate with a recruitment object clause → meet statutory-compliance and bond requirements → inspection → licence fee ₦200,000.
Sector licencesGaming
Obtain a sports-betting / gaming licence (state)
License a betting or lottery business. Since the Supreme Court's November 2024 judgment nullified federal jurisdiction over games of chance, licences are issued by the STATE regulator (e.g. Lagos LSLGA) for each state of operation: incorporate with ₦20m share capital → apply → Approval-in-Principle (90 days) → grant of licence + revenue levy.
Finance & capitalFinance
Obtain a super-agent (agent banking) licence (CBN)
License a super-agent network — the entity that recruits and manages agent-banking outlets (POS agents): 12 months' trading history → ₦50m shareholders' funds escrowed with the CBN → apply → Approval-in-Principle → final licence with ≥50 agents.
Sector licencesTelecoms
Obtain a telecoms licence (NCC Class / InfraCo)
License a telecoms/infrastructure service with the NCC: choose licence type (Class or Individual, e.g. InfraCo) → incorporate & prepare documents → apply to NCC → grant.
Land & premisesEnvironment
Obtain a waste-management (NESREA) permit
Get a NESREA Waste & Toxic Substances permit for waste/effluent handling: select permit type → prepare documentation → apply & pay → assessment & permit.
Trade & mobilityAviation
Obtain an Air Operator Certificate (airline)
Certify an airline with the NCAA: pre-application (legal & financial) → formal application & manuals → inspection & demonstration flights → issuance of the AOC.
Trade & mobilityAviation
Obtain an aviation ground-handling licence (NCAA)
License an airport ground-handling company with the NCAA: incorporate & meet capital → prepare operational/safety/security/dangerous-goods manuals → apply to the DG → licence + annual audits.
Sector licencesEnergy
Obtain an electricity generation licence/permit (NERC)
Authorise power generation with NERC: determine the tier (register <100kW / permit 100kW-1MW / licence for embedded or larger) → prepare technical application → apply to NERC → grant.
Finance & capitalFinance
Obtain an insurance broker licence (NAICOM)
License an insurance broking firm with NAICOM under NIIRA 2025: incorporate & meet fit-and-proper → apply to NAICOM → register with NCRIB → meet capital, indemnity & client-fund rules.
Start & structureBusiness
Obtain an ISP / telecoms licence (NCC)
License an Internet Service Provider / telecoms service with the Nigerian Communications Commission: incorporate → NRS tax → apply to NCC → grant.
Start & structureBusiness
Open a restaurant / food business
Licensing to operate a restaurant or food-service business: CAC → Local Government food permit → food handlers' health certificates → NAFDAC Good Hygiene Practice.
Land & premisesReal estate
Perfect a land title (C of O / Governor's Consent)
Perfect ownership of land under the Land Use Act 1978, which vests all land in the state Governor. A first grant produces a Certificate of Occupancy; every subsequent transfer requires the Governor's Consent, obtained from the state Lands Bureau: search → Form 1C application → charting & assessment → pay consent/capital-gains/stamp/registration fees → consent endorsed and deed registered.
Start & structureCooperative
Register a cooperative society
Register a cooperative with the State Director/Registrar of Cooperatives: form the society & meet member minimums → apply → inspection & verification → letter of recognition.
Start & structureInvestment
Register a foreign-owned business (NIPC + Business Permit)
The route for foreign investors: incorporate with ≥₦100m share capital → register the business with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission → obtain a Business Permit from the Federal Ministry of Interior (the instrument that legally authorises foreign participation) → expatriate quota where staff are to be posted in.
Start & structureBusiness
Register a limited liability company (CAC)
Incorporate a private limited company with the Corporate Affairs Commission under CAMA 2020: name reservation → documents & PSC → fees & stamp duty → certificate.
Start & structureBusiness
Register a patent
Protect an invention at the Trademarks, Patents & Designs Registry (NIPO) under the Patents & Designs Act: file petition + specification & claims + drawings + inventor's declaration → formal (not substantive) examination → grant, on average ~6 months → annual renewal fees; the patent lapses 20 years from filing.
Sector licencesHealth
Register a pharmacy (PCN premises)
License a pharmaceutical premises with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria under a Superintendent Pharmacist: engage pharmacist → location approval → register premises (Form B) → inspection & licence.
Sector licencesHealth
Register a private hospital / clinic
License a private medical facility: incorporate with qualified staff → meet MDCN facility standards → apply to the State health facility agency → inspection & licence.
Start & structureBusiness
Register a product with NAFDAC
Register a food, drug, cosmetic or chemical product with NAFDAC via the NAPAMS portal: submit docs → GMP facility inspection → lab testing → committee approval → Certificate of Product Registration (valid 5 years).
Trade & mobilityMaritime
Register a ship / vessel (NIMASA)
Register a vessel on the Nigerian Ship Registry (incl. cabotage): confirm eligibility → apply to NIMASA's Director-General → pay registry fees → collect the certificate.
Start & structureNonprofit
Register an NGO (Incorporated Trustees)
Register a non-profit as Incorporated Trustees with the CAC under CAMA 2020: reserve name → constitution & trustees → newspaper publication → certificate → SCUML.
Sector licencesEnergy
Register an oil & gas service company (NUPRC/NCDMB)
Qualify to provide oil & gas services: incorporate & register on NCDMB's NOGIC JQS → apply for the NUPRC OGISP permit → processing → Nigerian Content compliance.
Land & premisesConstruction
Register as a builder (CORBON)
Become a CORBON-registered builder — required to practise building construction, maintenance and management: meet qualifications → submit project documentation → apply & pay → registration.
Finance & capitalFinance
Register as a capital market operator (SEC)
Register a broker, dealer, broker-dealer, issuing house or fund/portfolio manager with the Securities & Exchange Commission under the Investments and Securities Act 2025: meet the minimum capital → sponsored individuals → file with SEC → registration.
Land & premisesReal estate
Register as a real-estate practitioner (LASRERA/REDAN)
Register a real-estate/agency business (Lagos LASRERA + developers' REDAN): register the business → meet eligibility → LASRERA registration → REDAN (developers).
Start & structureBusiness
Register as an employer (PENCOM, NSITF, ITF)
Statutory employer compliance for a business with staff: pension (PENCOM via a PFA), employee compensation (NSITF) and industrial training (ITF). Also the trio of compliance certificates needed to bid for government contracts.
Sector licencesTech
Register as an ICT service provider (NITDA)
Register/certify an indigenous IT service provider with NITDA (Executive Orders 003/005 local content): meet eligibility → apply on IICP → provisional certificate → 2-year substantive certificate.
People & practiceProfessional
Register to practise engineering (COREN)
Become a COREN-registered engineer — required to practise and take engineering responsibility: meet qualifications → apply online → professional exam/assessment → registration.
Sector licencesAgriculture
Register to practise veterinary medicine / open a clinic (VCN)
Practise as a veterinary surgeon and operate a veterinary clinic under the Veterinary Surgeons Act: DVM from an accredited faculty → one-year internship → VCN licensing examination and registration → annual practising licence → VCN accreditation of the clinic premises.
Trade & mobilityTrade
Set up an enterprise in a Free Trade Zone (NEPZA)
Obtain a Free Zone Enterprise Operating Licence (OPL) to manufacture, warehouse or trade inside a licensed Nigerian free zone: apply through zone management with a project plan → approval within ~5 working days → OPL. The licence substitutes for CAC registration, and zone enterprises are exempt from federal/state/local taxes and levies.
Start & structureBusiness
Certify a locally-made product (SON MANCAP)
Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme certification for locally manufactured products to the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard before sale/export: apply → factory inspection & testing → evaluation → certificate (valid 3 years).
Start & structureBusiness
Comply with data protection (NDPA / NDPC)
Meet Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 obligations: register with NDPC, appoint a Data Protection Officer, and (if processing 2,000+ data subjects/yr) file an annual Compliance Audit Report via a licensed DPCO.
Start & structureBusiness
Hire a foreign worker (Expatriate Quota & CERPAC)
Employ an expatriate legally: obtain an Expatriate Quota (Ministry of Interior) → STR visa → enter Nigeria → CERPAC residence/work permit (Nigeria Immigration Service).
Start & structureBusiness
Register a business for tax (TIN & VAT)
Obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and register for VAT with the Federal Inland Revenue Service: CAC → TIN (often auto-issued at incorporation) → VAT.
Trade & mobilityAviation
Register a drone / obtain an RPAS permit (NCAA)
Register a drone (≥250 g) and, for commercial use, obtain an RPAS operating permit from the NCAA via the RPAS portal.
Sector licencesTourism
Register a hotel / tourism business (NTDC)
Register and classify a hospitality/tourism establishment: CAC → register with NTDC → premises inspection & grading → state tourism licence.
Land & premisesReal estate
Register as an Estate Surveyor & Valuer (ESVARBON)
Become a registered Estate Surveyor & Valuer — the statutory credential to practise estate/valuation and issue valuation reports: qualify → supervised practice & interview → ESVARBON registration.
Start & structureCompliance
Register with SCUML (EFCC) — DNFI AML
Anti-money-laundering registration for Designated Non-Financial Institutions with SCUML (EFCC): confirm DNFI status → register online → verification & certificate. Required to keep a corporate bank account.