Just Landed in Nigeria? Your First 7 Days

Mobile data is the primary way to get online, and coverage from MTN and Airtel is strong across Lagos, Abuja and other cities but weaker and slower rurally. Home fibre from providers like Spectranet, FibreOne and Tizeti (Wifi.com.ng) exists in parts of Lagos and Abuja but is patchy elsewhere, so many people run a router on a mobile data SIM as backup. Every SIM must be linked to your NIN to stay active, so complete that enrolment early.

Typical cost: Around 5,000-15,000 NGN per month for a generous mobile data bundle; a starter SIM is under 1,000 NGN, and home fibre packages typically start around 15,000-25,000 NGN monthly.

Nigeria has pushed hard toward digital payments, and instant bank transfers via banking apps and USSD codes are the default for most transactions, from restaurants to roadside traders. Cash is still essential for danfo buses, keke tricycles, markets and tips, and card acceptance remains inconsistent outside malls, supermarkets and hotels. A working local banking app or a fintech wallet is as important as having naira in your pocket.

Opening an account: Opening an account requires a Bank Verification Number (BVN), your passport, a residence permit or work ID and proof of address; GTBank, Zenith, Access and UBA are the usual choices for foreigners, and fintechs like Kuda and Opay are popular for everyday spending. Ask specifically about a domiciliary (USD) account, which is invaluable for receiving inward transfers and holding foreign currency. Expect the process to take a few visits and some patience.

Cash: Keep a supply of small naira notes for danfo minibuses, keke tricycles, market traders, fuel attendants and security 'appreciation'. Instant bank transfers are accepted almost everywhere, even by street vendors who will simply read out an account number, so a reliable banking or Opay/PalmPay app matters daily. During occasional cash shortages, ATMs can run dry, so never let your physical cash fall too low.

Tipping: Tipping is not obligatory but is warmly appreciated: round up or leave 5-10% in restaurants that do not already add a service charge, and hand small notes to car park attendants (the 'area boys' who guide your parking), fuel pump staff, porters and security guards. These small gestures smooth daily life considerably.

Foreigners staying long-term on work or residence status must obtain the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) through their employer or accredited sponsor. This is the core legal document proving your right to live and work in Nigeria, and it is renewed annually. Short visits on a tourist or business visa do not require CERPAC, but overstaying any visa attracts daily penalties and can complicate future entry, so keep your status current at all times. There is no separate general address-registration scheme for residents beyond CERPAC and your NIN enrolment.

Deadline: Your CERPAC must be regularised within 90 days of arrival on a Subject To Regularisation (STR) visa, and it is then renewed each year.

Where: Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), arranged in practice through your employer's HR team or an accredited immigration agent rather than by walking in alone.

Cities rely on informal transport: yellow danfo minibuses, keke (tricycles) and okada (motorbikes, now banned on many Lagos routes and best avoided anyway). For a newcomer, ride-hailing apps are the safest and simplest option, and many expats and companies hire a personal driver given the traffic, security and the sheer stress of driving yourself. Lagos also has the newer Blue and Red rail lines and BRT buses on dedicated lanes, which can beat road traffic on some corridors.

From the airport: From Lagos (Murtala Muhammed) to Victoria Island or Ikoyi expect roughly 7,000-25,000 NGN by Uber or Bolt and 45-90 minutes depending on the notorious traffic, sometimes far longer. From Abuja (Nnamdi Azikiwe International) the city centre is a smoother 40-50 minute drive on a good expressway; pre-booked cars or the official airport taxis are the norm, and prices are usually negotiated or metered by app.

Rentals are found through agents, WhatsApp groups and portals like Nigeria Property Centre, PropertyPro and Jiji, though almost every deal ultimately runs through an agent who expects a fee. The defining feature of the market is that landlords typically demand a full year, sometimes two, of rent upfront, plus agent and legal fees, so your move-in cash outlay is large. Serviced apartments (which bundle power, security and water) cost more but remove much of the daily infrastructure hassle for newcomers.

Typical rent: A serviced two-bedroom flat in Lekki, Ikoyi or Victoria Island (Lagos) runs roughly 5-15 million NGN per year, while a modest one-bedroom on the mainland can be found from around 1.5-3 million NGN per year. Abuja's Maitama, Wuse and Jabi are broadly comparable to the Lagos islands, with cheaper options in outer districts.

Deposit norm: Expect to pay one to two years' rent in advance, plus roughly 10% agent fee and 10% legal/agreement fee on the first year, and often a refundable caution deposit. Always insist on a written tenancy agreement and receipts, and verify the agent and landlord are genuine before transferring any money.

Public healthcare is underfunded and overstretched, so expats rely almost entirely on private hospitals and clinics, which are concentrated in Lagos and Abuja. For serious conditions, medical evacuation to South Africa, the UK, India or Egypt is common, which makes evacuation cover essential rather than optional. Standards at the best private facilities are good, but you should not assume the depth of specialist care available in Europe or North America.

How to access it: Use reputable private facilities such as Reddington, Lagoon or St Nicholas in Lagos, or Nisa Premier and Cedarcrest in Abuja; pay by card, transfer or cash, or through a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) if you are enrolled. Keep a personal stock of any routine or prescription medication you rely on, as pharmacy quality and stock vary and counterfeit drugs are a known risk, so buy only from reputable registered pharmacies.

Insurance: Arrange comprehensive private international health insurance that explicitly includes medical evacuation before you arrive or immediately on landing. In parallel, an in-country HMO such as Hygeia, Avon or Reliance covers everyday consultations and treatment; many employers provide one, so confirm what your package includes and top it up if the cover is thin.

• Greet before getting down to business; a handshake and a genuine 'how are you, how is the family?' is expected before any request, and skipping it reads as rude.
• Show respect to elders and seniors, using titles like Sir, Ma, Chief, Alhaji or Doctor, and offer or receive items and money with your right hand or both hands.
• Dress smartly and modestly; Nigerians present themselves well, and looking neat and put-together earns real respect in offices, banks, churches, mosques and official settings.
• Be patient and good-humoured with delays and bureaucracy; calm persistence, relationships and a smile achieve far more than confrontation or visible frustration.
• Accept hospitality graciously; if you are offered food or a drink when visiting, taking at least a little is a sign of respect, and reciprocating generosity is valued.
• Learn a few local greetings for the region you are in, such as a simple Yoruba, Hausa or Pidgin phrase; the effort is noticed and appreciated warmly.
• Address people by their professional or honorific title until invited to use first names, and be generous with thanks and praise, which oils every interaction.

• Avoid discussing or photographing anything sensitive around military, police, airports or government buildings, and never photograph people, especially in the north, without asking first.
• Religion and ethnicity are deeply felt; tread carefully and avoid casual generalisations or jokes about the mostly Muslim north or the mostly Christian south.
• Public displays of affection are frowned upon, and any hint of LGBT identity is both socially taboo and legally dangerous, as same-sex relationships are criminalised nationwide.
• Do not be flashy with cash, phones or jewellery in public or in traffic, as visible wealth attracts unwanted attention and opportunistic crime.
• Be cautious about openly criticising the government or getting drawn into political or ethnic arguments with people you do not know well.