• Patent fees

Fees associated with Nigerian PCT national phase entry as well as other patent fees are available in the fee calculator.

• Deadline for PCT national phase entry in Nigeria

The time limit for PCT national phase entry in Nigeria is 30 months from the date of priority. This term is not extendable.

• Filing requirements in Nigeria

The official language of a Nigerian patent application is English. All application documents must be translated into English at the time of filing.

To obtain the filing date, a patent application based on PCT should contain:
- a request to grant a patent;
- applicant's data;
- international application materials in English;
- confirmation of payment of the filing fee.

The original of a simply signed Power of Attorney should be submitted upon filing of the application. The legalization or notarization thereof is not required.

• Examination of a PCT national phase patent application in Nigeria

Patent applications are examined as to formal requirements and unity of invention only in Nigeria. There is no substantive examination.

• Novelty grace period

A Nigerian patent application may be filed within six months after the disclosure the information about the invention by the inventor or his successor at an official, or officially recognized international exhibition.

• Grant, validity term and maintenance fees

No official grant fee is stipulated. The validity term of a patent is 20 years from the international filing date. Annual fees are due each year starting from the international filing date but become payable after granting of the patent. The payment should be made within three months before the due date. It is possible to pay the annuity fee within a six-month grace period after the due date together with a corresponding surcharge.

• Duration of registration procedure

It takes an average of 6 months from filing to granting of a patent in Nigeria.

• Utility Model

Entering the PCT national phase in Nigeria as a utility model is not possible.

• Representation by a patent attorney

Foreign applicants must perform patent prosecution through a registered Nigerian Patent Attorney.

Brief summary is based on the information provided by Hectagon and Shields Solicitors on 09.02.2024
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Nigerian IP Laws