Last updated 13 October 2026
Workwear and Coveralls Supplier for Nigeria
We supply bulk coveralls, overalls, hi-vis vests, flame-retardant and security uniforms to Nigerian contractors, oil and gas operators, cement plants, hotels and security firms. Trial orders start at 300 pieces, free samples are available, and we prepare the SONCAP documents your clearing agent will ask for. Sea freight from Tianjin to Apapa runs 28–34 days. Quotes answered within 4 working hours, West Africa Time.
Request a bulk quotation WhatsApp usKey takeaways
- Workwear is not on SON's exemption list, so it is normally inside the SONCAP pre-shipment regime — you need a Product Certificate to open Form M and a SONCAP Certificate to clear.
- The Product Certificate is issued to the exporter, the SONCAP Certificate to the importer. Two different documents, two different owners.
- Start the paperwork before the container leaves China. SONCAP cannot be processed afterwards, and the penalty is 20% of CIF or ₦2,000,000, whichever is higher.
- Plan for the Harmattan (December–February) with light-coloured, long-sleeve, dust-friendly garments, and heavy rain gear for the June–September Lagos and Niger Delta season.
- We ship roughly 40,000–70,000 pieces a year into Nigeria across roughly 12–18 consignments, mostly 20GP and 40HQ containers through Apapa and Tin Can Island.
1. Who orders custom workwear in Nigeria
Nigerian buying patterns are different from most of our markets. Orders are usually larger but less frequent, specifications are driven by a client's end user (an oil major, a state government, a multinational's Nigerian subsidiary), and the invoice is almost always decided by the import documentation as much as by the garment. The five groups below account for the majority of what we ship.
| Buyer group | What they order | What decides the order |
|---|---|---|
| Oil, gas and energy contractors | FR coveralls, anti-static coveralls, hi-vis coveralls, winter/rain jackets for field crews | Standards compliance and test reports; the contractor's own HSE approval |
| Construction and civil works | Hi-vis vests and polos, work trousers, hard-wearing coveralls, boots-adjacent items | Price per piece, delivery date against a project milestone |
| Cement, steel and manufacturing | Heavy cotton coveralls, dust-friendly long-sleeve sets, workshop jackets | Fabric weight and how many industrial washes the garment survives |
| Security companies | Guard uniforms, shirts, trousers, berets, reflective trims, rain capes | Uniform consistency across sites, sizing range, repeat supply |
| Road safety, logistics and riders' associations | Reflective vests and jackets, hi-vis rain gear | Visibility performance and unit cost at very large volumes |
If you are procuring on behalf of a government agency or a multinational, ask us for our document pack first: product certificates, test reports, packing lists and a draft Form M description. Most tender delays in Nigeria are documentation delays, not production delays.
2. SONCAP and SON requirements for workwear
SONCAP (the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme) is an offshore, pre-shipment conformity assessment. It exists to verify, before the goods leave the exporting country, that products entering Nigeria meet the applicable Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) or an approved equivalent.
Workwear, coveralls and protective clothing are not on SON's published exemption list (food, medicines, medical items other than equipment, chemicals used as raw material by bona fide manufacturers, military wares, contraband, and used products other than automobiles). In practice that means garments are treated as SONCAP-regulated, so you need the certificates below. Confirm the exact requirement for your HS code with your IAF or clearing agent before you pay a deposit — this is the single most common cause of Nigerian orders going wrong.
The documents you will need
| Document | Who issues it | What it is for | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Certificate (PC1 — unregistered) | Independent Accredited Firm (IAF) | Opening Form M. Issued to the exporter | 6 months, single use |
| Product Certificate (PC2 — registered) | IAF | Opening Form M for regular supply | 12 months, multiple use |
| Product Certificate (PC3 — licensed) | IAF | Opening Form M, highest status | 12 months, multiple use |
| Certificate of Conformity (CoC) | IAF, after inspection, sampling and testing | Evidence submitted to SON for the SC | Per consignment |
| SONCAP Certificate (SC) | Standards Organisation of Nigeria | Processing PAAR and Customs clearance. Issued to the importer | One consignment only |
Realistic timelines and cost
SON publishes indicative turnaround times of 96 hours for a Product Certificate and 96 hours for a SONCAP Certificate, with a 24-hour route where all qualifying documents and test reports are submitted in good time and the products comply. In practice, allow 2–3 weeks for the first Product Certificate on a new product: sampling, laboratory testing and the documentary review are what take the time, not SON's own processing.
| Item | Published fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Product Certificate 1 (unregistered) | 500 |
| Product Certificate 2 (registered) | 1,000 |
| Product Certificate 3 (licensed) | 2,000 |
| New product registration | 350 |
| Certificate amendment | 100 |
| Non-Conformity Report (NCR) | 350 |
| Certificate issuance — PC1 / PC2 / PC3 | 60 / 120 / 120 |
| SONCAP Certificate, per certificate | 350 |
Fees and turnaround times as published on SON's SONCAP FAQ (son.gov.ng). SON revises its schedule periodically and IAFs add their own service charges — treat these as indicative and confirm current figures with your IAF.
Two things that changed in 2026 and will trip you up:
1. Bureau Veritas issued a voluntary withdrawal from the SONCAP scheme in August 2026. If a supplier's documents reference an IAF that is no longer active on your product line, the certificate will not clear. Confirm which of the current IAFs is handling your commodity before shipping.
2. SONCAP and Import Permit processing has been moved onto the National Single Window (NSW) platform. If your clearing agent is still working from a printed process sheet, expect a delay.
SON currently lists eight Independent Accredited Firms handling the offshore process: Africa Standards and Certifications; Alberk QA Technic; Bureau Veritas; China Certification and Inspection Group; China Hanson Inspection and Certification; China Standards Inspection; COTECNA Verification Services Nigeria; and Intersip Quality Solutions.
What we do for you
- We issue our Product Certificate in the exporter's name, which is the name that goes on Form M — so tell us early whether the PC should sit with us or with your own Nigerian entity.
- We book the pre-shipment inspection window with your nominated IAF and make the goods available for sampling at our factory.
- We keep test reports on file for our standard fabrics and FR ranges, which shortens the first-time review.
- We will not load a container until the PC is in hand, unless you instruct us in writing that you are carrying the clearance risk.
Full walkthrough, document by document: SONCAP for workwear imports — a buyer's step-by-step guide.
3. Import duty and landed cost for a Nigerian order
Buyers usually compare FOB prices and then get a shock at the port. Build the landed cost yourself using the structure below, and ask us for the FOB and freight figures you are missing.
| Cost layer | Applies to | How to estimate it |
|---|---|---|
| FOB price per piece | Garment + packing + inland haulage to port | From our quotation |
| Ocean freight | Tianjin → Apapa or Tin Can Island | Per container; roughly USD 1,900–3,400 for a 20GP depending on season and carrier |
| Marine insurance | About 0.3–0.5% of CIF | Usually a fixed broker minimum |
| Import duty | Applied to CIF, at the ECOWAS CET rate for your HS code | Garments and made-up textile articles commonly sit in the 20% band, but confirm your code |
| ETLS levy and CISS | Applied to CIF | ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme levy and the Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme charge |
| VAT | On (CIF + duty + levies) | Nigeria's standard rate applies |
| Terminal, shipping line and agency charges | Per container | Ask your clearing agent for the current schedule — this line varies most |
| SONCAP certificates | PC + SC | See the fee table above |
Illustrative example only. 1,000 poly-cotton coveralls at USD 9.80 per piece FOB Tianjin = USD 9,800. Freight USD 2,600, insurance USD 55, giving a CIF of about USD 12,455. At an assumed 20% duty, CIF duty would be roughly USD 2,491; add the levies and a standard VAT rate on top of CIF plus duty, and the goods are landing at roughly USD 17,000–17,800 before port, terminal and clearing agency charges. That is about USD 17.0–17.8 per coverall landed, against a 9.80 FOB. The duty rate and the levies are the assumptions that move this number most — verify the current rates for your HS code with your clearing agent, and treat this paragraph as a model, not a quotation.
Typical classification for our products sits in the garments chapters — coveralls and overalls of man-made fibres, work trousers, jackets and hi-vis vests. Because classification changes the duty band, we put the suggested HS code on every invoice and packing list, and we recommend you confirm it with your broker before Form M is opened. See import duty on workwear into Nigeria for the code list.
4. Shipping to Apapa and Tin Can Island
Lagos is the destination for the overwhelming majority of Nigerian orders, with Onne and Port Harcourt for oil and gas consignments and Tincan/Apapa for everything else.
| Route | Container | Indicative transit | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tianjin → Apapa (Lagos) | 20GP / 40HQ | 28–34 days | Most coveralls and vests move this way |
| Tianjin → Tin Can Island | 20GP / 40HQ | 28–34 days | Same schedule, different terminal; confirm with your agent |
| Tianjin → Onne / Port Harcourt | 20GP / 40HQ | 32–40 days | Usually oil and gas cargo, often FR garments |
A 40HQ takes approximately 12,000–16,000 poly-cotton coveralls depending on size mix and packing, or roughly 45,000–55,000 hi-vis vests when compressed. Because garment cargo is light for its volume, you will almost always be paying for space rather than weight — which means carton optimisation saves real money. We quote both a standard carton and a compressed carton so you can see the difference in container cost before you choose.
The delays that actually happen are rarely at sea. They are: late Form M, a mismatched product description between the invoice and the Form M, a PC issued in the wrong entity's name, and terminal congestion in the last quarter of the year. We build the documentation in the order your clearing agent needs it. Logistics detail: shipping workwear to Apapa and Tin Can.
5. Harmattan, rainy season and what that means for the garment
Nigeria is not one climate, and the wrong fabric choice is the most common quality complaint we see on repeat orders.
| Season and region | Conditions | What we recommend |
|---|---|---|
| Harmattan — December to February, the north especially | Dry, dusty, hazy air; very low humidity; cool mornings | Light-coloured, long-sleeve cotton or poly-cotton at 190–240 gsm; avoid dark colours that show the dust; add a light jacket layer |
| Rainy season — June to September, Lagos and the Niger Delta | Heavy, frequent rain; high humidity; saturated sites | Water-repellent shell over a breathable inner layer; taped seams on the shell, not on the coverall; quick-dry fabrics |
| Year-round, the south | Hot and humid, 28–34°C typical | Breathable weave, moisture-wicking polo under coveralls, mesh ventilation panels; avoid high-gsm cotton that stays wet |
| Year-round, the north | Very hot days, cool nights in the dry season | Reflective-light colours for heat, plus a packable warm layer for night shifts |
Two practical points that Nigerian buyers raise with us repeatedly. First, breathability beats thickness for most Nigerian sites — a worker who removes a garment because it is too hot has no protection at all. Second, for Hi-Vis garments that will be washed frequently, choose the tape and the fabric together, not separately; the retro-reflective tape is usually the first thing to fail, long before the fabric does.
6. Sizes, fit and the size ratio you should order
Nigerian size distribution is broader than our European orders and skews differently by region. In practice, most of our Nigerian clients take a ratio close to the below, then adjust after the first consignment based on which sizes they ran out of.
| Size | Share of a typical order | Note |
|---|---|---|
| S / M | 20–25% | Lower share than a European order of the same size |
| L | 25–30% | Usually the largest single size |
| XL | 22–28% | Often ties with L on site-based orders |
| 2XL | 15–20% | Do not under-order this one — it is the size that runs out first |
| 3XL and above | 5–10% | Worth ordering on the same PO; our coveralls are graded to 5XL |
Two ordering rules we give every client. Order 2XL and above on the first consignment, because adding a size to a later container costs a full MOQ on that size alone. And ask for a size set before bulk if you are supplying women as well as men — our women's version is a different pattern, not a smaller men's pattern, and it is worth fitting before you commit to 10,000 pieces. See workwear size charts and bulk size ratios.
7. Logos, branding and the hi-vis rule buyers forget
- Embroidery — the default for security, hotel, aviation and corporate uniforms. Best on jackets, shirts and polos; the most durable; about USD 0.35–1.20 per position depending on stitch count.
- Screen print — cheapest at volume for large solid designs; works well on T-shirts and polos; degrades faster under industrial washing than embroidery.
- Heat transfer / vinyl — good for multi-colour logos and small runs; the most sensitive to washing temperature.
The hi-vis rule: on a Hi-Vis garment, a logo placed over the reflective tape or inside the tape's clearance zone can invalidate the visibility performance of the garment, however good the garment itself is. On Nigerian oil and gas and road projects this gets checked. We lay out the logo position for you and flag every placement that would compromise the Hi-Vis configuration before we print it — send us the artwork and we will come back with a marked-up layout.
8. MOQ, samples, payment and price validity
| Item | Trial | Standard | Best price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity per style/colour | 300 pcs | 1,000 pcs | 5,000 pcs and above |
| Logo positions | 1 | 1–2 | Unlimited within reason |
| Size ratio | Flexible | Your ratio | Your ratio |
| Carton | Standard export | Standard export | Compressed / custom |
| Lead time | 18–22 days | 25–30 days | 30–40 days |
Samples. One piece free per style; you pay the courier, typically USD 35–60 to Lagos and 4–7 days door-to-door. If you need a full size set, we charge sample cost and credit it against the bulk order. Sample lead time is 7–10 days.
Payment. Our standard terms are 30% deposit with the order and 70% against the bill of lading copy. Letter of credit at sight is possible and adds roughly 1.2% in bank charges — worth it on a first large order, rarely worth it once we have shipped for you. Plan the Form M opening into your timeline; it sits in front of the PC and therefore in front of production.
Price validity. We hold quoted prices for 30 days. Nigerian buyers tell us this matters more than usual because of naira movement, so our quotation states the USD figure, the exchange rate assumption, and what happens if the rate moves more than a set percentage before the deposit lands. Ask for that clause if it is not already in the quote you receive.
More on structuring low-value and mixed orders: low MOQ workwear orders and how they are priced and payment terms for African buyers.
9. What we have shipped into Nigeria
Nigeria is one of our larger African markets. In the last twelve months we shipped roughly 40,000–70,000 pieces across 12–18 consignments, mostly 20GP and 40HQ containers, most commonly:
- FR and anti-static coveralls for oil and gas contractors, Port Harcourt and Niger Delta destinations
- Hi-vis vests and polos in mixed sizes for construction and civil works in Lagos and Abuja
- Heavy poly-cotton coveralls with reflective trim for a cement plant maintenance contractor
- Guard uniforms, shirts and trousers on repeat cycles for a private security operator
- Hi-vis rain gear for a road maintenance client, timed for the rainy season
We are happy to walk you through a consignment on a video call — the packing list, the test reports and the SONCAP documents for a real Nigerian shipment — before you place an order. We schedule calls in WAT; just give us a slot.
10. Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Does workwear need SONCAP to enter Nigeria?
Workwear and textiles are not on SON's published exemption list, so they normally fall within the SONCAP regime and need a Product Certificate before Form M and a SONCAP Certificate for clearance. Because the requirement is driven by HS code and product category, confirm your specific code with an Independent Accredited Firm or your clearing agent before you place the order.
Who gets the Product Certificate — me or the factory?
The Product Certificate is issued in the exporter's name; the SONCAP Certificate is issued in the importer's name. If we ship on FOB terms, the PC normally sits with us and the SC must be registered to your Nigerian company, because the SC is what processes the PAAR and it is tied to one specific consignment.
What happens if I ship without SONCAP?
SONCAP is an offshore, pre-shipment scheme and cannot be completed once the goods have left the country of origin. Goods arriving without it are subject to detention and testing, and there is a default charge of 20% of CIF or ₦2,000,000, whichever is higher. It is far cheaper to plan the certificate into the schedule than to fix it at the port.
How long does the whole thing take, door to door?
For a repeat order: 25–30 days production, plus the pre-shipment inspection and CoC, plus 28–34 days at sea, plus Lagos clearance. Plan on roughly 10–12 weeks from deposit to goods on site. First orders with a new product take two to three weeks longer because of the initial Product Certificate and testing.
Can you supply a mixed container — coveralls plus vests plus shirts?
Yes. Mixed containers are common on Nigerian orders and they are the most efficient way to stay above MOQ per style while filling a whole box. Send us your full requirement list with quantities and we will tell you how it fits into a 20GP or 40HQ.
What is your minimum order?
300 pieces per style and colour for a trial order, 1,000 pieces for standard pricing, and 5,000 and above for the best price per piece. Mixed colours within the same style and fabric can share an MOQ band.
Do you provide test reports and certificates with the goods?
Yes. We supply fabric test reports, the applicable standards certificates for FR and Hi-Vis ranges, and the compliance documents for the consignment as a single pack with the shipping documents, so your clearing agent and your HSE department are working from the same set of papers.
Can I visit the factory or send an inspector?
Yes to both. We host video factory tours in your time zone, and we support third-party inspection by SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV, Intertek or your nominated agent. Tell us the inspection standard you work to — many Nigerian buyers specify an AQL level, and we would rather agree the acceptance criteria before production than argue about it after.
Why buyers choose us
- Coveralls and workwear since 2007
- SONCAP document pack prepared
- Trial orders from 300 pcs
- 1 free sample per style
- Third-party inspection supported
Order by category
Get a price for your Nigerian order
Send us the garment type, quantity, sizes, colour and the port you are shipping to. You will have a costed quotation — including the document pack you need for SONCAP — within four working hours.
