Nigeria

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

CAC Business Registration Required

Yes. Any business, including a moving company, must register with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

FRSC Operator’s License Required

Yes

Yes, where the mover operates its own commercial vehicles. Transport companies operating commercial vehicles need an Operator’s License from the Federal Road Safety Corps, the federal body responsible for road safety compliance and enforcement, requiring documentation including vehicle particulars, insurance documents, and company registration certificates. Where a mover subcontracts the transport, the carrier’s own licence covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold the licences that transport requires.

State Transport Authority Requirements May Also Apply

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Individual states layer their own transport authority requirements on top of the federal FRSC license, particularly relevant for local or intra-state operation. Specific requirements vary by state.

Per-Vehicle Documentation Required

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Every commercial vehicle needs a Certificate of Road Worthiness (issued via the state Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO), a valid Insurance Certificate (minimum third-party coverage), a Commercial Vehicle Licence, and current vehicle registration.

A Designated Safety Manager Is Required

Yes, for commercial fleet operators. FRSC regulations for commercial fleet operators require designating a Safety Manager responsible for specific duties: ensuring vehicles meet minimum safety standards, maintaining a logbook for each vehicle, ensuring the use of passenger and cargo manifests, ensuring roadworthiness certification is current, maintaining driver training and disciplinary records, and submitting yearly returns on driver training to the FRSC.

Consumer Protection

Yes. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 established the framework, administered by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Consumer Complaint Resources (For Movers Not Vetted as ITMs)

Yes, active. Consumers can file complaints through FCCPC’s online complaint portal, by phone (national lines 08056002020 and 08056003030, with a separate Lagos Zonal Office line), or in person at FCCPC offices. The Commission has a demonstrated enforcement track record: its Lagos Zonal Office alone reported resolving more than 15,000 consumer complaints.

Industry Association

None dedicated. NARTO (Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners) is an established national body representing commercial road haulage generally (petroleum products, general cargo, passenger transport) across Nigeria and the West African sub-region, but it is not specific to household moving.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Nigeria licenses commercial goods transport through a federal-plus-state structure: the FRSC issues the national Operator’s License, requiring vehicle particulars, insurance documentation, and company registration certificates, while individual states may layer on their own State Transport Authority requirements for local operation. Business incorporation runs separately through the CAC. Each commercial vehicle needs its own roadworthiness certificate, insurance, and commercial vehicle licence, and commercial fleet operators must designate a Safety Manager responsible for specific recordkeeping and compliance duties, including driver training records, vehicle logbooks, and annual reporting to the FRSC. These transport obligations attach to the company operating the vehicles; where a mover subcontracts transport, the carrier’s own licences and vehicle documents cover the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold them.

On the consumer side, the FCCPC administers Nigeria’s 2018 consumer protection law through an active complaint system with a demonstrated enforcement track record. There is no dedicated Nigerian moving-industry trade association; NARTO represents commercial road haulage generally rather than household moving specifically.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Company licensing

1. Register the business with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

2. Obtain an FRSC Operator’s License, submitting vehicle particulars, insurance documentation, and company registration certificates.
3. Confirm and obtain any applicable State Transport Authority requirements for the specific state(s) of operation.
4. Maintain per-vehicle documentation: Certificate of Road Worthiness, Insurance Certificate, Commercial Vehicle Licence, and current vehicle registration.
5. Designate a Safety Manager, fulfilling the specific recordkeeping and compliance duties required by FRSC regulations, including yearly returns on driver training to the FRSC.

Subcontracted transport

6. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

Customer practices

7. Ensure consumer-facing practices comply with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• CAC business registration heldVerified by DocumentRequired
• FRSC Operator’s License heldWhere applicable (mover operates its own commercial vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Applicable State Transport Authority authorization held for the state(s) of operationWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles in a state with STA requirements)Verified by DocumentRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• Certificate of Road Worthiness current for each vehicleWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Insurance Certificate (minimum third-party coverage) current for each vehicleWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Commercial Vehicle Licence held for each vehicleWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Current vehicle registration for each vehicleWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Safety Manager designated, fulfilling the FRSC duties (vehicle safety standards, vehicle logbooks, manifests, current roadworthiness certification, driver training and disciplinary records)Where applicable (mover operates its own commercial fleet)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• Yearly driver training returns submitted to the FRSCWhere applicable (mover operates its own commercial fleet)Verified by AffirmationRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Customer practices

• Consumer-facing practices comply with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018Verified by AffirmationRequired