Protecting Your Brand: A Guide to Trademark Registration in Nigeria

A trademark is the legal protection for your brand name and logo. In Nigeria, trademarks are governed by the Trade Marks Act (Cap T13, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) and registered by the Trademarks, Patents and Designs Registry in the Commercial Law Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Why register early?

Registration gives you the clearest and strongest rights, and applications are now processed strictly in the order they are filed. Someone who has used a mark continuously from before your registration may keep some rights, and passing off remains available against copycats, but those routes are slower and harder to prove. Registering early avoids the argument.

What can be registered?

A trademark can be any mark that distinguishes your goods or services from other people's, such as:

• Words and names
• Logos and device marks
• Slogans
• Marks limited to particular colours

The registration process

Step 1: Search

Search the register for similar marks before filing. A search does not guarantee registration, but it greatly reduces the risk of objection.

Step 2: File online

Applications are filed online through the registry's portal at iponigeria.com. Each application covers one class of goods or services under the Nice Classification, so a brand used for several kinds of goods or services needs a separate application for each class.

Step 3: Examination

The registry checks the application for formal requirements and for conflicts with existing marks, and you can respond to any objection. Since January 2025 applications carry serial numbers and are handled in strict filing order, and you can track progress online.

Step 4: Publication and opposition

Accepted applications are published in the Trademarks Journal. Anyone who objects has two months to file an opposition.

Step 5: Registration

If there is no opposition, or it fails, the mark is registered and a certificate is issued.

How long protection lasts

Registration lasts 7 years, counted from the filing date, and can be renewed for periods of 14 years at a time, without limit.

Reforms to watch

The Federal Government approved a National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy in late 2025, and bills to replace the Trade Marks Act are before the National Assembly. We will update this guide when a new law is passed.

Enforcement

A registered owner has the exclusive right to use the mark for the registered goods or services and can go to court against infringers. Without registration, your options are much more limited.