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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.

Procedure
4steps
Coordination
4agencies
Category
Start & structureBusiness
Task links

Go to the exact next page

Application, requirements, forms, fees, and tracking are labelled separately.

RequirementsRead the patent registration procedureNigerian Industrial Property Office · nipo.gov.ngApply onlineOpen the accredited-agent filing portalNigerian Industrial Property Office · nipo.gov.ngNIPO online filing is restricted to accredited agents.FeesCheck official fees and chargesNigerian Industrial Property Office · nipo.gov.ng
Routing map

Who you will deal with

Applicant / patent agentNigerian Industrial Property Office (NIPO), AbujaNIPO RegistrarNIPO
Procedure

The steps, in order

Each route below is scoped to the step it can actually complete.

  1. 01

    Confirm patentability and priority

    Agency
    Applicant / patent agent
    What is required
    The invention must be new, involve an inventive step and be capable of industrial application. A convention application claiming foreign priority must be filed within 12 months of the priority date. Nigeria is a PCT contracting state (national-phase entry available).
    Documents
    Prior-art assessment; priority documents
    Typical timeline
    Within 12 months of priority
    Use for this step
  2. 02

    Prepare and file the application

    Agency
    Nigerian Industrial Property Office (NIPO), Abuja
    What is required
    File a petition/request signed by the applicant or agent, a specification with claims in duplicate, plans and drawings in duplicate, a declaration by the true inventor, a signed power of attorney where an agent acts, and an address for service in Nigeria for foreign applicants. Filing is online via the NIPO portal or at the Abuja registry.
    Documents
    Petition; specification + claims (x2); drawings (x2); inventor's declaration; power of attorney
    Typical timeline
    Filing
    Use for this step
  3. 03

    Pay fees and undergo formal examination

    Agency
    NIPO Registrar
    What is required
    The application fee is ₦15,000 for a non-convention patent and ₦25,000 for a convention patent (agent/professional fees are separate and typically much larger). The Registrar conducts a FORMAL examination only - there is no substantive novelty examination, so grant is not a guarantee of validity.
    Documents
    Application fee ₦15,000 / ₦25,000
    Typical timeline
    Formal examination
    Use for this step
  4. 04

    Grant, annuities and term

    Agency
    NIPO
    What is required
    Grant takes on average ~6 months from filing. Annual (annuity) fees accrue from the filing date and become payable after grant, within 3 months before each due date, with a 6-month grace period plus surcharge. The patent lapses at the end of the 20th year from the filing date.
    Documents
    Letters patent; annual renewal fees
    Typical timeline
    ~6 months to grant; 20-year term
    Use for this step
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