Niger CNUT Certificate

Niger BSC — What It Is and Why It’s Required

All ocean freight destined for Niger must carry a BSC (Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison) — also referred to as a BESC or CNUT (Certificat Nigérien d’Utilisation du Transit). The requirement is established under Decree N° 2013-465/PRN/MT of November 15, 2013. Every shipment arriving in Niger must have a valid BSC number — without it, cargo cannot clear Niger customs.

Niger is a landlocked country in the Sahel, with no direct sea access. All ocean freight transits through coastal West African ports. The BSC must be obtained before the vessel departs the port of loading and the reference number must appear on the Bill of Lading.

Which Transit Ports Are Used — And Which Need Double Certificates?

The certificate requirements vary significantly depending on the transit port:

Transit Port	Country	Additional Certificate Required?
Abidjan	Ivory Coast	No additional certificate needed
Cotonou	Benin	Yes — Benin BESC also required
Lomé	Togo	Yes — Togo ECTN also required
Lagos / Tema	Nigeria / Ghana	Niger BSC not required for these routes

This is an important distinction for freight forwarders routing Niger cargo. Cargo transiting via Abidjan only needs the Niger BSC. Cargo via Cotonou or Lomé needs both the Niger BSC and the transit port’s own certificate. For shipments routed via Lagos or Tema, a Niger BSC is not required at all.

Required Documents

To obtain a Niger BSC, submit clear PDF copies of:

• Bill of Lading — draft copy accepted for initial application; original required for final validation
• Commercial Invoice — must show accurate cargo value
• Freight Invoice — required if freight is not shown on the commercial invoice
• Customs Declaration

Documents must be final before submission — amendments after pre-validation incur penalty charges. The BSC number must appear on the original Bill of Lading.

Processing Time

Allow approximately one week from document submission to final validated certificate. Draft certificates are typically issued within a few days once all documents are confirmed accurate and consistent.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Financial penalties imposed at the Niger customs point — cargo will not clear inland customs without a valid BSC
• Cargo detention at the transit port, with accumulating demurrage and storage fees
• Amendment charges for any document changes after pre-validation

What Products Cannot Be Imported Into Niger?

Standard import restrictions apply:

• Animals and animal by-products from areas with active epizootic diseases
• Plants from areas affected by epiphytic diseases
• Certain distilled and spirituous beverages
• Pornographic materials and gambling equipment

We do not issue BSC certificates for prohibited goods.

Niger Trade — Key Figures

Niger is one of the world’s largest uranium producers and has growing oil export capacity. Import volume runs at approximately 2 billion USD annually. Key imports include food products, machinery, vehicles, petroleum products, and construction materials. France, China, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire are major trading partners. The Cotonou-Niamey corridor via Benin handles a significant share of Niger’s seaborne trade.

FAQ

Is the BSC the same as the CNUT for Niger? These refer to the same certificate. BSC is the international designation; CNUT (Certificat Nigérien d’Utilisation du Transit) is the local Nigerien terminology. Both mean the same mandatory cargo tracking document.

My cargo is going via Lagos — do I need a Niger BSC? No. If your cargo is entering Niger via a Nigerian port, the Niger BSC requirement does not apply for that route.

What if I ship via Cotonou? You’ll need both the Niger BSC and a Benin BESC — two separate certificates, two separate applications.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +971 56 470 4833