A temporary import allows goods to be brought into a country for a brief period of time. The goods may be imported to Nigeria for specific projects and with the absolute intention to re-export them back after a specific period of time.
To this, an initial period of one year is usually permitted at most, before or after which the goods are expected to leave the shores of the country.
It is mostly benefited by businesses who ship internationally where their import duties are totally or partially suspended. In fact, this allows the business to ship in goods without the import duty.
There are different types of temporary import depending on the goods and reason for shipping.
According to Section 42 (1) of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), the provision states as follows:
“…where the Board is satisfied that goods are imported only temporarily and are intended to be re-exported or consumed on board the importing ship or aircraft, it may permit the goods to be delivered on importation, or to remain on board the importing ship or aircraft for re-exportation or consumption on board as the case may be, subject to such conditions as it sees fit to impose, without payment of duty….”
Based on the above section, the NIgeria Customs service by interpretation, grants a concession to import the items on a temporary basis only when it meets with the condition that it will be re-exported within a specifically short period of time.
This form of approval is regarded as Temporary Import Permit and usually at the discretion of the Nigerian Customs Service.
Generally, it is expected that the TIP should be obtained, prior to shipping the items/goods to Nigeria.
The Nigerian bank or Insurance Company is mandated to issue a TIP Bond which happens to be the requirement for obtaining a temporary import permit.
This bond covers an equivalent value to the import duty payable and an additional amount not exceeding 25% of the import duty.
The TIP bond is to remain in force for its entire duration (and any extensions thereof), and where the terms of the TIP are breached, the bond will be forfeited. Source.
