Line pipe enquiries for Nigeria arrive with four questions: which grade, which PSL, what the SON conformity route needs, and how the pipe reaches Apapa, Tin Can or Onne. The grade and the wall are one decision, and the documents follow from the end use. This page answers all four so a quotation can be compared with the others on the table.
Mejor Steel is the export agent for the mills that make your material: one contract, one delivery date, and the mill named on the quotation. How we supply
We reply within one business day, Monday to Friday 09:00-18:00 CST. Or write to info@mejorsteel.com / WhatsApp.
Which grades are ordered, and which PSL
The grades quoted most often for Nigerian projects are Grade B and X42 to X70. Grade B covers general transmission and utility work; X52 to X65 dominate larger transmission lines; X70 appears where the design wants a thinner wall for the same pressure. PSL2 is specified wherever the project needs a carbon equivalent cap, impact testing and a defined non-destructive inspection scope, while PSL1 remains common for lower-duty water and utility lines.
Where the fluid contains hydrogen sulphide in the presence of water, the order changes: API 5L Annex H and a sour service specification apply, and the grade may move to a hardness controlled option. Our sour service page covers how that route is set.
Grade and wall are one decision
For a fixed design pressure and diameter, moving up a grade reduces the required wall thickness — the whole economic argument for X65 or X70 over Grade B on a long line. The rule has two limits: where the wall is sized by handling, buckling or a minimum wall rather than pressure, the higher grade buys nothing; and the higher grade carries a welding cost that lands on the contractor. The comparison sits on our X65 vs X70 page.
Nigeria compliance for line pipe
Two different things are being certified, and mixing them up delays projects.
- What the pipe is: mill test certificates to API 5L, with chemistry, mechanical and impact results traceable to the heat numbers. Where the project requires independent verification, the certificate is issued to EN 10204 3.2 or supported by a third-party inspection report.
- Whether it may clear: the SON conformity programme and the customs release route. The SONCAP product certificate covers the product line, the SONCAP certificate is issued per consignment, and the importer completes the Form M and the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report. That sequence is on the Nigeria compliance page.
The duty follows the ECOWAS Common External Tariff band for the HS heading of the pipe. Confirm the current rate with the clearing agent, because it follows the HS code and not the product name.
Delivery into Nigeria
The discharge port is usually the first commercial decision after the size, because it sets the inland freight.
| Cargo form | What it suits | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Containers | Smaller quantities and shorter lengths that fit a 40 ft box | Most container traffic lands at Apapa or Tin Can Island in Lagos |
| Breakbulk or multipurpose vessel | 12 m lengths, large diameters and orders that do not fit a box | Onne is the usual discharge for oil and gas pipe serving the Niger Delta; FOB, CFR and CIF apply as written |
Under CFR and CIF the seller pays the freight, but the risk passes when the pipe is on board, so the buyer’s own cargo cover protects the consignment from that point. Our Incoterms page compares the terms for steel cargo.
What to send with the enquiry
- API 5L grade and product specification level, with the edition the project works to.
- Outside diameter, wall thickness, length and end preparation; state minimum wall or nominal wall.
- Coating, lining and whether the line is buried, and the design temperature if impact testing is required.
- The project owner’s specification, if there is one.
- End use, so the conformity question can be answered before pricing.
- Quantity in tonnes and in lengths, the delivery window, the port and the trade term.
- Certificates and inspection: mill certificate type, third-party inspection, and any witnessed testing.
Frequently asked questions
Which port should we discharge at for a Nigerian gas project?
It depends on where the line is being built. Lagos ports, Apapa and Tin Can Island, handle most container cargo; Onne serves the Niger Delta and is the usual discharge for oil and gas breakbulk. Name the project location with the enquiry and the freight can be costed against the right port.
Do you supply PSL2 with impact testing?
Yes — impact testing is part of what PSL2 orders normally specify, together with a carbon equivalent cap and a defined non-destructive inspection scope. The test temperature and acceptance criteria belong on the order, because the certificate is written against them.
Can you transfer the SONCAP registration to us?
The conformity route is completed in the importer’s name, so it is not something a supplier transfers. What we do is provide the product data, test records and documents the Form M and the SONCAP application depend on.
Where to go next
- Steel pipe into Nigeria – SONCAP, Form M and delivery
- API 5L X65, X70 and X80 compared – where a step up in grade pays
- API 5L line pipe – the grades and dimensions we supply
- Sour service materials – when Annex H applies
- Get a quote – send the specification, the port and the term
Quoting line pipe into Nigeria? Send the API 5L grade and PSL, the diameter and wall, the length and end preparation, the project specification if there is one, and the port. We confirm availability, inspection and delivery before the order is released.