Nigerian business owners are facing significant challenges as more than 70% of shipments sent from Nigeria to the United States via airports are being refused entry or placed on hold, following the enforcement of President Donald Trump’s new tariff policy.
Ini Daniel, the Chief Commercial Officer of AAJ Express Logistics Limited, revealed the troubling development in a report by Leadership Newspaper. Daniel highlighted that the full implementation of Trump’s tariff regulations, which came into effect on April 2, 2025, has caused severe delays, creating a crisis for exporters and importers operating in the U.S. market.
According to him, “Nigeria’s exporters are grappling with unprecedented challenges in shipping goods to the United States following the full enforcement of Trump’s new tariff regulations on April 2nd, 2025. Reports reveal that cargo and courier companies are facing severe difficulties with clearance into the U.S., resulting in a crisis for exporters.
“The turmoil has been felt acutely within the airline industry, where carriers are now forced to offer significant discounts or even free returns due to the chaos surrounding tariff enforcement. Adding to the frustration, exporters are left in a fog of confusion, as officials have not provided clear explanations for the refusals.”
Stating that, this dilemma is not unique to Nigeria; as exporters from various European nations, China, and other African countries are similarly affected by the new regulations, in the light of the current circumstances, he advised Nigerian exporters to temporarily suspend shipments to the U.S. until clearer guidelines are established from U.S. Customs.
With uncertainty hanging in the air, exporters are anxiously awaiting clarity on demand and hope for a resolution that will allow them to resume smooth trading operations with the United States.