When it needs to arrive quickly, our air freight gets your cargo to Nigeria in days, not weeks.
Air freight to Nigeria takes 7 working days and costs £6 per kilo to our Lagos office, with no minimum and no maximum weight — a 2 kg parcel is £12 plus £20 handling. Door delivery to any state is quoted separately. It is the right choice for anything urgent, valuable or fragile.
Air freight is the fastest part of our cargo to Nigeria service and the quickest way to move cargo on this corridor. Where sea freight measures the journey in weeks, air measures it in working days — which makes it the answer whenever the arrival date actually matters.
We fly to Lagos and clear it on arrival. The recipient collects from our Lagos office, or we deliver on to the door in any state at a price quoted for that state.
What air freight costs
One rate, no minimum and no maximum weight, plus a £20 handling fee per shipment. That makes small parcels genuinely small: a 3 kg box is £18 plus handling, not a 10 kg minimum — which is unusual on this route. The handling fee is per shipment, so several small items are still cheaper in one box than sent separately. Chargeable weight is the higher of actual and volumetric (L × W × H cm ÷ 5,000). Sea and vehicle rates sit alongside these on the price list.
| What you get | Rate | Minimum | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air freight to our Lagos office, any destination | £6.00/kg | None | 7 working days |
| Door delivery, any state | Quoted by state | — | Adds road time |
Office collection or door delivery?
Every air shipment we fly lands in Lagos, clears, and goes to our office in Ifako-Gbagada — the full address is on our contact page. The recipient collects from there, which suits families in Lagos and anyone who would rather pick up than wait in for a delivery.
If they cannot, we deliver to the door. That is quoted by state rather than published as one number, because a Lagos address is a short run and Kano or Maiduguri is a day on the road. Tell us the delivery state when you ask for a quote and the price we give you includes it. Either way clearance is handled and there is no surprise bill at the other end.
Chargeable weight — the thing that surprises people
Air cargo is billed on whichever is greater: the actual weight, or the volumetric weight worked out from the box size (length × width × height in cm ÷ 5,000). A large light box of duvets can therefore cost more to fly than a small heavy box of tins.
Some couriers divide by 4,000 instead, which makes the identical box cost more. We use 5,000 and tell you the chargeable weight before you commit, so the number you agree is the number you pay.
What suits air freight
- Documents — passports, certificates, contracts, property papers
- Electronics — laptops, phones, tablets and anything valuable
- Gifts and items with a date attached — weddings, birthdays, occasions
- Medicines travelling with the right paperwork
- Urgent replacement items and business samples
- Anything you would rather not have in transit for weeks
What to send by sea instead
Barrels, furniture, bulk food and vehicles all belong on the water. Their weight makes air uneconomical, and none of it usually needs to arrive in days — our air vs sea comparison puts the two side by side.
A common and sensible pattern is to split: the small urgent things by air, the bulk by sea. We are happy to quote both halves.
Restrictions that apply to air specifically
Air carries stricter dangerous-goods rules than sea. Aerosols, perfume, anything containing fuel, and loose lithium batteries or power banks are commonly restricted or refused. Devices with batteries installed are usually fine. Tell us what is in the shipment and we will route it correctly — undeclared batteries are one of the few things that can get a consignment refused at the UK end.
What's Included
- 7 working days typical
- £6/kg, no minimum weight
- Lagos collection or door delivery to all 36 states
- Volumetric divided by 5,000
Common questions
How long does air freight to Nigeria take?
Typically 7 working days to our Lagos office, including customs clearance. Door delivery adds road time — more for distant states.
How much is air freight to Nigeria per kg?
£6 per kilo to our Lagos office, whatever the final destination, plus a £20 handling fee per shipment. There is no minimum weight. Door delivery is quoted by state.
Why is my quote higher than my parcel weighs?
Almost certainly volumetric weight. Air cargo bills on the greater of actual weight and size-based weight (L × W × H in cm ÷ 5,000). Bulky-but-light contents like bedding push the billed figure well above what the scales say.
Is there a minimum weight?
No — and no maximum either. A 2 kg parcel is billed as 2 kg. That is unusual on this corridor, where 10 kg minimums are common, and it is what makes air sensible for small, urgent things. The £20 handling fee is per shipment, so one box still beats several.
Can I send a laptop or phone by air?
Yes, and air is the sensible choice for anything valuable — fewer handling points and days rather than weeks in transit. Back the device up first and remove any lock only you can clear.
What cannot go by air?
Aerosols, perfume, fuel of any kind, and loose lithium batteries or power banks are restricted or refused as dangerous goods. Barrels are impractical by air on weight alone. Tell us in advance and we will route the shipment properly.
Do you deliver to the door in Nigeria?
Yes, to any of the 36 states and the FCT, quoted by state. Published prices are to our Lagos office for collection; tell us the delivery state and we price the door delivery with your quote. We need the recipient’s full name, address and a phone number they actually answer.