Nigeria

Entry requirements

Nigeria isn't a country you can just waltz into. There are few visa-free arrangements in place, and almost everyone requires a visa in advance to enter the country, unless they're citizens of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Nationals of Kenya are allowed to get a visa on arrival in Nigeria, though.

Nigeria's currency is naira (symbol: ₦, ISO 4217 code: NGN). Banknotes circulate in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000. Between 2023 and 2024, high inflation caused the naira to lose three quarters of its value against other currencies.

If you're located in a major city like Lagos or Abuja, taking ride-sharing services Bolt and Uber is usually the easiest way to get around. However, if you're traveling outside major cities you'll most likely want to hire a car and driver. The road systems in Nigeria are relatively poor compared with North America or Europe, but often still passable. The "okada" (motorcycle) is not for the faint-hearted (there used to be no helmets but as a law the rider is required to have two helmets for himself and a passenger, although very few okada riders adhere to this rule.) and should only be used for…

More than 500 languages are spoken in the country, making Nigeria one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. As impressive as that may sound, many of the country's languages are endangered, and many Nigerians are semi-literate or illiterate in their native languages.

Nigerian crime levels are fairly high, particularly in Lagos. The far north eastern regions of Nigeria are troubled by the Boko Haram jihadist group which is known for its attacks on non-Muslims and taking the law into their own hands. This Islamist group is also known for its harsh interpretation of sharia law, which includes flogging. Boko Haram attacks Christians and proselytizers, so avoid travelling to the north east in large groups. The US State Department and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against travel to this area, while Global Affairs Canada recommends against non-ess…

Travellers to Nigeria are required to vaccinate themselves against yellow fever, preferably 10 days before arrival in Nigeria. As malaria is prevalent, malaria pills and mosquito nets are also recommended. Polio vaccination in Nigeria is intermittent and there is a high rate of infection in the North.

Dialing out from Nigeria: you will need to dial the International Code, followed by the phone digit numbers. Dialing into Nigeria: callers use +234 followed by the phone digit numbers. There is also a company in Nigeria called Elixir Communication Worldwide that offers mobile phones for the blind and visually challenged. All the mobile operators have a roaming agreement with other mobile operators around the world.

Respect for elders is a part of Nigerian culture. If someone in a position of authority (policeman, teacher, someone older than you, and the like) tells you to do something, respect them and do it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with disagreeing with someone older than you so long as you do it respectfully and tactfully.