Exporting Fashion From Nigeria: NEPC Registration Basics

Exporting fashion from Nigeria as a business starts with registering as an exporter with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which the council says is done through its online e-registration platform. NEPC's own page states that "all business interested in exporting have to register as an exporter in Nigeria," and you receive an exporter's certificate once registered.

This guide covers what NEPC publishes about registration, the free tools on its site, and how to prepare your fashion brand for buyers abroad. Selling to London or Houston from Lagos also means helping customers choose the right size without a fitting, which our guide to virtual try-on for African fashion brands explains.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm current requirements with NEPC or a qualified adviser.

Who needs to register with NEPC?

NEPC's register as an exporter page says all businesses interested in exporting have to register as an exporter. For a fashion brand, that can include:

• Shipping wholesale orders of Adire, Ankara or Aso-oke pieces to stores abroad.
• Sending regular bulk orders to diaspora resellers in the UK or US.
• Taking part in trade fairs or buyer programs abroad.

If you only post the occasional parcel to a relative, ask NEPC or an adviser whether registration applies to you. Don't guess.

How does NEPC registration work?

NEPC describes the process in three parts:

1. Check your readiness (optional). NEPC offers an export readiness checker to help you see where you stand.
2. Register online. Registration is done through NEPC's e-registration platform.
3. Receive your certificate. Once registered, you receive your exporter's certification.

NEPC's page doesn't list the documents needed or how long the certificate lasts. Check on the e-registration platform or contact NEPC directly before you start. Have your CAC and tax details ready, because most official registrations ask for them.

NEPC also offers a verify exporter tool. Overseas buyers can use it to confirm a business is registered, which helps build trust.

What should you have in place before you register?

Exporting builds on your basic registrations. Before applying, check you have:

Item	Why it matters	Related guide
CAC registration	Your business or company record	Business name or company guide
Tax identification number	Identifies your business for tax	Getting a TIN
Business bank account	Receives foreign payments in the business name	Ask your bank
Product list	Shows what you plan to export	Your catalog
Size charts in UK, US or EU terms	Helps buyers abroad order the right size	Your size guide

Having these ready makes the e-registration form quicker to complete.

How do you prepare your products for buyers abroad?

Registration lets you export. Products and paperwork make buyers come back.

• Label clearly. Include brand name, fabric content, care instructions and size on every piece.
• Convert sizes. A diaspora buyer in Manchester thinks in UK sizes. Show your sizes alongside UK, US or EU equivalents, using your own measurements.
• Photograph honestly. Daylight photos without filters reduce "not what I ordered" disputes across borders, where returns are expensive.
• Pack for long journeys. Use sealed bags, sturdy boxes and a packing list inside each parcel.
• Price in the buyer's currency. Show prices in pounds or dollars where it helps, and invoice clearly.

Our guide to setting up a multi-currency, multi-language store covers prices, currencies and store settings for overseas shoppers.

How should you handle customer data when exporting?

Selling abroad means collecting names, addresses, phone numbers and sometimes body measurements from customers in other countries. Treat that information carefully and explain how you use it.

Our guide to customer data under the Nigeria Data Protection Act covers what Nigerian brands should put in place. Customers abroad may also be covered by their own country's privacy rules, so ask your adviser.

What are common mistakes new fashion exporters make?

Avoid these early problems:

• Skipping registration and then finding a buyer or bank asks for proof.
• Using unofficial agents who promise faster certificates. Use NEPC's official platform.
• Underquoting shipping. International delivery costs can wipe out your margin. Get quotes before you set prices.
• Vague size information. Buyers abroad can't pop into your Surulere shop to try things on.
• No written terms. Agree payment, delivery and returns in writing with wholesale buyers.
• Mixed-up records. Keep export invoices, courier receipts and payment records together, so you can answer questions from your bank or accountant quickly.

How can ZeDaq.ai help you sell abroad?

ZeDaq.ai helps buyers far away choose with confidence. On your online store, shoppers upload one photo and see your real garment on their body, and a 30-second body scan recommends a size from your own size chart. For custom orders, clients can send measurements through a link they open on their phone, and you can invoice them in GBP, USD or NGN.

Every paid plan has a 3-day free trial with no card required.

FAQs

Where do I register as an exporter in Nigeria?

NEPC says registration is done through its e-registration platform on nepc.gov.ng. Use the official site rather than a third party.

How long does an NEPC certificate last?

NEPC's registration page doesn't state this. Check on the e-registration platform or contact NEPC directly.

Can overseas buyers check that I'm registered?

NEPC offers a verify exporter tool on its website. Share your registration details so buyers can confirm them.

Do I need NEPC registration to post one parcel to a customer abroad?

Ask NEPC or an adviser about your situation. The rules may differ for occasional personal parcels and regular commercial exports.