Your Equipment Arrives on Time. Every Time. Without Surprises.
Importing medical equipment into Nigeria involves navigating a complex web of regulatory requirements — NAFDAC product registration, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) tariff classifications, SON conformity assessments, pre-arrival assessments, and Form M processes. A single misstep can mean weeks of delays and significant financial penalties.
GBioMed's specialist import and customs team handles this entire landscape on your behalf. With years of experience clearing medical devices through Lagos, Apapa, Tincan, and Onne ports, we know exactly what's required, who to speak to, and how to move your consignment through efficiently.
- Complete documentation preparation — all shipping, regulatory, and customs documents handled in-house.
- NAFDAC product registration support — we manage or verify product registrations before shipment to prevent port holds.
- HS code classification — accurate tariff classification to ensure the correct duty rates and avoid mis-declaration penalties.
- Duty relief & exemption applications — leveraging all applicable government exemptions for health sector equipment.
Medical Equipment Import Exemption
Under Nigeria's CITA and applicable import duty schedules, certain categories of medical devices and equipment attract reduced or zero duty rates. GBioMed proactively identifies and applies for these exemptions on every eligible consignment.
How Your Equipment Travels From Factory to Facility
GBioMed manages each stage with precision — every handover point is tracked, documented, and communicated to you in real time.
Purchase Order & Documentation
Pro-forma invoice, Form M processing, and pre-shipment approvals secured with your bank and CBN.
Factory Dispatch & Freight
OEM shipment coordination, freight booking, and export documentation from origin country.
Port Arrival & Pre-Arrival
Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) filing with NCS and vessel tracking to anticipate arrival dates.
NAFDAC & Regulatory Clearance
Product registration verification, NAFDAC inspection liaison, and SON conformity processing.
Duty Payment & Release
HS code classification, import duty computation, duty exemption applications, and customs release.
Last-Mile Delivery
Bonded truck transport, real-time tracking, and confirmed delivery with site inspection sign-off.
Everything We Handle For You
Our import clearance service is comprehensive — covering every regulatory, logistical, and financial dimension of bringing medical equipment into Nigeria.
Documentation Preparation
We prepare and review all shipping documents — Bill of Lading, Airway Bill, commercial invoice, packing list, Certificate of Origin, technical specs, and insurance certificates — to prevent rejection at customs.
NAFDAC Registration & Clearance
We manage NAFDAC product registration for medical devices, liaise with inspectors during port examination, and provide all compliance documentation required for regulatory approval.
Form M & CBN Processing
We coordinate Form M applications through your nominated bank, ensure CBN approval timelines are met, and handle all foreign exchange documentation required for import financing compliance.
Duty Classification & Exemptions
Accurate HS tariff code classification for medical equipment, application for applicable duty exemptions under health sector import relief, and correct duty computation to prevent under- or over-payment.
Freight & Logistics Coordination
Sea freight, air freight, and bonded transport coordination with certified freight forwarders. We track your shipment from port of loading to final destination and communicate status updates throughout.
Cross-Border & West Africa
For institutions in neighbouring ECOWAS states, GBioMed manages cross-border import documentation, transit permits, and destination country regulatory clearances under applicable trade protocols.
Our Full Import & Clearance Process
Complete transparency at every stage — from the moment we receive your purchase order to the day your equipment reaches your facility.
Purchase Order & Procurement Confirmation
Once your equipment order is confirmed, GBioMed raises the Purchase Order with the OEM and begins coordinating export documentation on the manufacturer's end, ensuring all origin certificates and factory declarations are in place before shipment.
Form M Opening & CBN Approval
Our finance team works with your nominated bank (or recommends a suitable bank) to open and process the Form M, ensuring CBN approval is obtained before the shipment departs — eliminating the risk of payment blocks at port.
NAFDAC Pre-Registration Check
Before any shipment departs, we verify NAFDAC registration status for every product. Where registration is pending or lapsed, we initiate the renewal process — preventing the single most common cause of port holds for medical equipment.
Freight Booking & Shipment Dispatch
We book sea freight (LCL or FCL) or air freight depending on urgency and equipment type, coordinate crating and safe packaging with the manufacturer, arrange comprehensive marine insurance, and track the vessel or flight to Lagos, Tincan, or Onne port.
Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR)
While the shipment is in transit, our licensed customs agent files the PAAR with the Nigeria Customs Service through the ASYCUDA platform. Accurate HS code classification and cargo value declaration at this stage prevents RMS red-channel examinations and delays.
Port Examination & Customs Release
Upon vessel arrival, our agent coordinates with NCS officers for physical examination where required, presents all documentation, processes duty payment (with any approved exemptions applied), and obtains the Release Order for your consignment within the shortest possible timeframe.
Last-Mile Transport & Delivery
Cleared consignments are loaded onto bonded trucks or specialist flat-beds for large equipment. We coordinate safe transport to your facility — whether in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, or any state — with real-time tracking and a final delivery inspection report.
Handover Documentation & Archiving
On delivery, you receive a complete documentation pack: customs release order, duty receipts, NAFDAC clearance, delivery note, and all OEM documents. GBioMed archives digital copies for seven years — invaluable for audits, NHIA compliance, and donor reporting.
"GBioMed handled the clearance of our ventilators and ICU monitors flawlessly. Equipment arrived three weeks ahead of our original schedule. Their team handled every single document — we just received the delivery."
— Head of Procurement, State Ministry of HealthClearance Specialists Who Understand Medical Equipment
Generic freight forwarders handle thousands of product categories. We handle one: medical and healthcare equipment. That specialisation means faster clearances, fewer rejections, and zero surprises.
- Medical-only specialisation — our agents are trained exclusively on health sector import regulations and NAFDAC requirements.
- End-to-end ownership — one team handles everything from PO to delivery, with a single point of contact throughout.
- Government & donor programme expertise — experienced in GIFMIS, donor-funded project procurement and USAID/UN supply chain documentation.
- Duty exemption maximisation — we proactively identify every applicable exemption category to reduce your effective import cost.
- Transparent cost reporting — full itemised breakdown of all duties, levies, and service fees with no hidden charges.
- Integrated with supply service — clients who procure equipment through GBioMed get seamless clearance as part of the same contract, with no gaps between supplier and importer.