Choosing a China agent is the most important decision you will make before you import anything. A good agent saves you money, time and stress. A bad one can collect your payment and disappear, or send goods that are not what you ordered.
This guide gives Nigerian importers a practical way to check an agent before paying: seven checks, a list of questions to ask, and the red flags that should make you walk away. It applies whether you are buying fashion items, furniture, equipment or heavy machinery.
Quick answer: A reliable China agent is registered with CAC and can prove it, has real addresses you can verify, puts the scope and fees in writing, can show proof of past work, and is clear about who handles shipping and clearing. If an agent cannot answer these questions plainly, do not pay.
Last updated: October 2026
What does a China agent actually do?
A China procurement (or sourcing) agent finds suppliers, negotiates prices, places and follows up your order, checks the goods and arranges hand-over for shipping. Some agents also run the shipping themselves. Others, like Hind Procurement Services, hand your goods over to the shipping company you choose, or one we assign.
Understanding this early prevents confusion. A procurement agent buys and checks goods. A shipping company or freight forwarder moves them and usually handles customs clearance in Nigeria. Ask any agent which of these jobs they do themselves, which they pass to someone else, and who is responsible once the goods leave their hands.
Seven checks before you pay any China agent
1. Check that the company is registered in Nigeria
Ask for the company name and RC number, then search it yourself on the free CAC public search. The result should show the registered name, registration number, date of incorporation, registered address and whether the company is active.
Check that the name you find matches the name on the invoice. A registered business is not automatically a good one, but an agent who refuses to share a registration number has told you what you need to know.
2. Look for real addresses and real people
Ask for a physical address in Nigeria and, if the agent claims an office or stall in China, the address of that too. Check the address on a map. Look at how long the business has been active online: anyone can create a page this week, but a business that has been posting real orders for years is harder to fake.
Ask who you will be dealing with. You want a named person, not just a WhatsApp number. A short video call is a simple way to see who is behind the business.
3. Get the scope and fees in writing
Ask exactly what is included: sourcing, price negotiation, quality checks, packing, hand-over to shipping and follow-up. Ask how the agent is paid (a percentage, a flat fee, or a margin built into the price) and whether there are extra charges for inspections, communication or follow-ups.
Get the answer in writing, in a message or document you can keep. Promises like “we will take care of everything” are not a scope.
4. Make sure the payment details match the business
Before sending money, confirm that the account name matches the registered company name on the invoice. Be careful if you are asked to pay into a personal account, or if the account details change halfway through an order. If anything looks different from what you were told, stop and confirm through a number or channel you already trust.
5. Look for proof of past work
Read the Google reviews and look at who wrote them: real names, photos, and details about what they bought and when. Ask for references from customers who bought the same kind of goods as you. Be careful with testimonials that only appear as screenshots on the agent’s own page, and with reviews that were all posted within a few days or all say the same thing.
6. Ask what evidence you will receive
A reliable agent tells you up front what you will receive and when: updates on your order, and proof that the goods match what you asked for. Ask in advance what happens if something goes wrong. For example, many agents ask you to record an unedited video when you open your package, so the issue can be raised with the supplier and the shipping company.
7. Know who handles shipping and clearing, and what it costs
Shipping from China to Nigeria has two parts that buyers often mix up: moving the goods, and clearing them at the Nigerian port. Ask who does each one, whether it is included in the agent’s fee, and which documents are needed. Depending on what you import, this can involve paperwork such as Form M, the PAAR (Pre-Arrival Assessment Report) and product-conformity certificates like SONCAP. Rules change, so ask for the current requirements for your goods and get any estimate in writing.
No honest agent can promise exact clearing costs or exact arrival dates in advance. Charges depend on the goods, the documents and the port process at the time. Be cautious about anyone who guarantees a fixed clearing cost without knowing what you are importing.
Questions to ask a China agent before you pay
Copy this list into a message and send it before you transfer anything.
| Question | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|
| What is your company name and RC number? | A name and number you can verify on the CAC public search, matching the invoice |
| Where are your offices and who will handle my order? | Real addresses and a named contact |
| What exactly is included in your fee? | A written list of services and how the fee is calculated |
| Are there any extra charges? | A clear answer on inspections, packing, handling and follow-ups, in writing |
| Whose account will I pay into? | An account name that matches the registered company |
| What proof will I receive, and when? | A clear idea of the updates and evidence you get at each stage |
| Who ships my goods and who clears them in Nigeria? | A clear split of responsibility and who to contact at each stage |
| How long will it take? | A realistic range counted from the day goods ship, not a guaranteed date |
| What happens if goods arrive damaged or wrong? | A defined process and the evidence you need to provide |
| What is your minimum order? | A plain answer. Some agents only work in bulk |
| How is the naira exchange rate handled? | When the rate is fixed and who carries any change |
| Can I see reviews or speak to past customers? | Verifiable Google reviews or references |
Red flags that should make you stop
- The agent will not share a company name, RC number or address.
- You are pressured to pay quickly, or told a price is “only for today”.
- You are asked to pay into a personal account, or the account changes mid-order.
- Prices are far below what every other agent quotes.
- Delivery dates or clearing costs are guaranteed before your goods are even known.
- Nothing is in writing and everything is “sorted on WhatsApp”.
- The agent is vague about who ships and who clears.
- The business has no history, or the reviews look copied.
- You get defensive answers when you ask normal questions.
How Hind Procurement Services answers these questions
We think you should ask us the same questions. Here is what we can tell you today.
- Registration: Hind Importation Brand Limited, RC 7173495. You can search it on the CAC public search. We trade as Hind Procurement Services.
- Who we are: founded in 2019 by Adenekan Temitope Olajumoke, who was featured in Tribune Online. Read more about us.
- Where we are: an office in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and a stall in Guangda Shoes City, Baiyun District, Guangzhou. Full addresses are on our contact page.
- Track record: more than 2,000 successful procurements, and Google reviews from real clients on our Google Business Profile.
- What we do: we are a procurement company, not a shipping company. We source, check quality and specifications, and hand your goods over to the shipping company you choose, or one we assign. We source heavy machinery, equipment, furniture and fashion items. See our services.
- Our terms: we work on bulk purchases only. Sea freight takes about 60 to 72 days and air freight about 7 to 14 days, counted from the day your goods are shipped. If goods arrive damaged, our terms ask you to record an unedited video while opening the package. Please read our Terms and Conditions before you pay.
- What we will not promise: exact clearing costs or exact arrival dates. We would rather tell you that now than after you have paid.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a China agent is legitimate?
Verify the company on the CAC public search, check the physical addresses, read real reviews, and get the scope and fees in writing. If an agent avoids any of these, treat it as a warning sign.
What is the difference between a procurement agent and a shipping company?
A procurement agent finds, buys and checks goods in China. A shipping company or freight forwarder transports them and usually handles clearing in Nigeria. Always ask who is responsible for each step.
Should I buy directly from Alibaba or 1688, or use an agent?
Buying directly gives you more control but means you handle the language, supplier checks and payment yourself. An agent does that work for you, which matters most on larger or repeat orders. Either way, the same rule applies: verify before you pay.
Can I trust Google reviews?
They are a useful signal, not proof. Read all of them, not just the top ones, and look for specific details such as what was bought and when. Check that reviewers have other activity on their profiles.
Can an agent guarantee clearing costs or delivery dates?
No. Clearing charges and port processes change, and shipping times are estimates counted from the day goods ship. Ask for estimates in writing and treat any fixed guarantee with caution.
Ready to import from China?
Tell us what you want to buy and our team will review your requirements and connect you with the right procurement specialist. Contact Hind Procurement Services, or call +234 816 226 4915. You can also read how our China importation agent service for Nigeria works.
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