About

Officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the country makes up one of the largest landmasses in Africa, spanning over 923 thousand square kilometres, and consists of around 175 million inhabitants, with the top half of the country mainly being Muslims and the bottom half consisting of mainly Christians.

The country is also home to the second largest economy in Africa, relying on its oil reserves for income and has been identified as an Emerging Market Nation by the World Bank. Additionally, Nigeria is a member of both the Commonwealth of Nations and the African Union and is expected to become one of the world’s Top 20 economies by 2050. 

Stone Age History

Human beings were present in Nigeria’s Iwo-Eleru region from as early as 13,000 BC and a full fossilized human skeleton found in the region dates to this time period. Although tools found in the region only date as far back as 11,000 BC and consist of ceramics and tools used during hunting and gathering.

A higher quantity of ceramics were found dating to the 4^th millennium BC, it’s believed that around this time the hunter gather culture began to become replaced by agricultural means and small communities began to form, specifically around Yam, Oil Palm and Cereal growth, with the former two cultivated more in the south and the latter one more in the north. The main tribe that took on these practices were the Igala.

Bronze Age History

Eventually the Yoruba split from the Igala in 2000 BC, around the same time Iron began to be worked in the Kainji Dam area, and it’s suggested that this was brought in from the Nile Valley in turn at an earlier date. Around 1200 BC, Ironwork began being practiced in the Upper Savanna as well, around 800 years after it had begun being practiced by those in the Kainji Dam area.

Iron Age History

Ironwork became most prominent in this era when the Nok began using more advanced techniques to transform and distort the iron further. The Nok culture began to take over massively and from this point until 200 AD the civilization thrived. However, little is known of their culture or what came afterwards until the 9^th Century AD.

1^st Century – 15^th Century History

The Yoruba people gradually developed into small city-states during the 8^th Century AD and these slowly became lesser groups as the people fractured down into smaller societies and rapidly became integrated into other tribes under differing dynastic chieftains. But it should be noted that many groups of Yoruba continued to exist well into the modern age.

It’s believed that the Nri Kingdom may have begun around the 9^th Century AD as a type of hegemony, but it’s only known that the reputed founder of the civilization settled in the region around 948 AD. The first Eze, or king, of the kingdom, however, was crowned in 1043 AD, but some believe that a date of 1225 AD may be more accurate. Each king was part of a theocracy of sorts that followed a central religion, using tattoos as religious, symbolic, educational and political tools.

Between the 15^th and the 16^th Centuries the Nri went into decline as several once-lesser states took on much more prominent economic roles, mainly oligarchies, and began to dominate the once-ruling kingdom of Nri. These included the Awka city-state, the Onitsha Kingdom, the Aboh Kingdom, the Umunoha state, the Oyo Kingdom, the Benin Kingdom and the Aro state, the latter of which being the most powerful.

16^th Century – 19^th Century History

In 1630, the Aro began warring with the Ibibio. This culminated in 1720 with the forming of the Arochukwu state, which went on to form the Aro Confederacy. The Confederacy began to dominate Eastern Nigeria and it built strong military allies with neighbouring states such as Ohafia, Ezza, Abam, Abiriba and more.
Soon these states developed into a large kingdom and many city-states including the Ajalli, Arondizuogu and Bende Kingdoms which remained under dominance of the ruling Arochukwu state, generated by a merger of the Aro and the nearby allied Abiraba. Its power funded through a strong economic and religious position of prominence over the region allowed it to gradually push its territory outwards further and further even as the 19^th Century began.

At the end of the 19^th Century however, European Colonists began to move into the region and quickly clashes broke out, with the Aro striking out in fear of the European (mainly British) economies and its dominant religion, Christianity, breaking the Aro leaders’ control over the region. The Europeans could only be patient but after repeated attacks by the Aro, they prepared for war and began open warfare following the Aro Invasion of Obegu in 1901.


20^th Century History

In 1901 Nigeria became a British Protectorate and in 1902, the British made a direct attack on Arochukwu and fought for several months afterwards, in the end being victorious and destroying the Aro Confederacy’s power. This allowed the British to easily dominate the Eastern Nigerian region. Although it should be mentioned that further resistance from Afikpo and Ezza by the Aro in 1902-1903 and 1905 was still significant.

In 1914, the country was formally united as the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria but technically remained completely divided into the Northern Province, the South Province and the Lagos Colony. During this time the west pushed their education system and economic standards into the region and following World War II, Nigerian nationalism had risen and demands for independence began.

Oil was discovered off the coast in the 1950s but didn’t come into full play for another twenty years. In 1954, the country became the Federation of Nigeria and just a few years later, independence was in full demand by the entire country.

In 1960, Nigeria was granted full independence under a constitution that would require a parliamentary government as well as several smaller governments for each of the three regions. The first speaker of the Nigerian Parliament, Jaja Wachuku, replaced Sir Frederick Metcalfe of Britain in the same year and the first parliament was formed following elections, again, the same year. The Nigerian People’s Congress (NPC), National Convention of Nigerian Citizens (NGNC) and the Action Group (AG) represented each of the peoples in the region, with the NPC standing for the mainly Hausa and Fulani Muslims in the region, the NGNC representing the Igbo Christians and the AG representing the remaining Yoruba people.

Following the first general election, the NCNC and the NPC took most of the seats and the NPC’s party leader Ahmadu Bello, who should have become Prime Minister, instead appointed Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to rise to become the first Prime Minister of Nigeria. Following a dispute within the AG between a faction under Ladoke Akintola and the party’s leader Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Prime Minister Balewa intervened and tried to have the AG join the coalition government. However, the main party under Chief Awolowo disagreed and attempted to replace Akintola.

This in turn was disagreed upon by one of the AG’s other council leaders and riots broke out in the parliamentary chambers. Furniture was lobbed across the room and one member went as far as to wield the parliamentary Mace as a weapon, attacking the speaker and other members, causing the police to tear gas the chambers to stop the riot. Despite the quelling of these riots however, further unrest continued throughout western Nigeria and this eventually caused Prime Minister Balewa to declare martial law, arrest Chief Awolowo alongside other members with his faction and charge them with treason. Meanwhile Akintola joined the coalition government and saw the AG’s power diminished.

In 1963, a new pre-parliamentary party took over, the NNDP, or the Nigerian National Democratic Party, but the following election in 1965 produced allegedly fraudulent results and drove the country towards civil war. In the midst of this, the NNDP formed a coalition with the NPC and took full control of the country. Three years later in 1966, a group of military officers overthrew the coalition and assassinated the ruling individuals including the prime minister and premiers of the northern and western regions. This in turn sparked another coup d’état shortly afterwards by General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi whom drove the military officers, the Young Majors, underground.

As the new government under General Aguiyi-Ironsi struggled to produce a nationally approved constitution, mainly due to Decree No. 34 which attempted to unify the nation and dissolve the federal structure previously used. Widespread rioting broke out in the north and upon the Aguiyi-Ironsi government’s renaming of the country to the Republic of Nigeria, a group of mainly northern officers produced another coup d’état and established Major General Yakubu Gowon as leader. He restored the Republic back to the Federal Republic but also massacred thousands of Igbo, pushing the remainder to the south-east to unify with the already powerful Igbo secessionist sentiment. The government divided the four regions down further into 12 states but the Igbo resisted the change and attempted repeatedly to change the constitution.

In 1967, the leader of the Igbo declared that the eastern region had become the independent Republic of Biafra. This started the Nigerian Civil War, culminating in over 3.5 million deaths, mostly from starvation, and ended three years later in 1970.

The country, now out of the civil war, attempted to build upon a shattered economy, at the same time developing the Nigerian Army’s forces further. Following the increase of value in oil in 1973, General Yakubu Gowon was accused of corruption by General Murtala Mohammed and a small group of officers, allowing them to stage a bloodless coup d’état. However, General Mohammed was assassinated in 1976 and his chief of staff, Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo, became the head of state. A new constitution was drafted the following year, and in 1978 it was published upon the ban of political activity being lifted. The following year five political parties competed in a series of elections and Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was elected as President, but all five parties were able to be represented in the National Assembly. By 1979, the price of oil had skyrocketed following the Iran-Iraq War’s lead up, and subsequently Nigeria had become the sixth largest exporter of oil in the world with revenues rising above $24 billion annually.

However, despite a surface-value of prosperity and democracy, the military overthrew the government in 1983 and Major General Muhammadu Buhari became the leader of the SMC, or Supreme Military Council, which began to rule the country. This in turn was overthrown by the SMC’s third-ranking officer, General Ibrahim Babangida just two years later in 1985. President Babangida rapidly moved to restore freedom of the press and released political detainees being held without charge. However, despite these good motions, he also announced pay cuts for the majority of the government-run industry and forces in order to try to rebalance the economy. The public’s intense opposition to these measures surfaces during his opening of a national debate and he subsequently promised to return the country to civilian rule by 1990 but quickly extended this to 1993. In 1989, the government established two parties, the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) but refused to allow other parties to register.

In 1990, several mid-level officers attempted a coup d’état and 69 accused plotters were executed following secret military trials. The same year the first election was held and both parties were able to win in various locations around the country but the SDP came out on top. Despite the low turnout, there was no violent unrest whatsoever. In the following year, state legislative elections were held and previously banned politicians were allowed to contest in primary elections but these and the next primary elections were cancelled due to fraud. In 1993, the presidential election was held and M. K. O. Abiola won decisively, however, Babangida annulled the election and widespread riots broke out once again, killing over a hundred. He agreed to hand over power to an interim government the same year but later attempted to resist the change, but by now his popularity had all but faded and he was forced to hand over power to Ernest Shonekan.

Unable to reverse Nigeria’s economic problems, Shonekan was ousted by Defence Minister Sani Abacha whom dissolved all democratic institutions and replaced the elected governors with military officers. But by 1994, Abacha’s unpopularity had grown rapidly, pushing the forming of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in opposition, and leading to Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola declaring himself President. He quickly went into hiding but was caught and arrested later on that year. Calling for his release, petroleum workers went on strike, this rapidly picked up support with more and more unions falling into the strike and bringing the whole of Lagos’ economic activity to a complete halt. However, the government placed all of the unions under appointed administrators and arrested the existing labour leaders. Abacha promised to restore civilian rule but refused to announce a timetable until 1995, when, upon annulling an election, the country was sanctioned by the United States, among others.

Abacha announced the country’s government returning to civilian rule in three years following 1995, but only five political parties were approved by the regime and voter turnout by 1997 was only at ten percent. The same year, the government arrested General Oladipo Diya and many of his followers on charges of plotting a coup d’état and sentenced him and eight others to death. A year later in 1998, Abacha died of heart failure and was replaced by General Abdulsalami Abubakar who lead the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC). He released almost all civilian political detainees and commuted the sentences accused of the coup d’état during Abacha’s regime. He also implemented a civil service pay raise and many other reforms and appointed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections for local regions of Nigeria. Successful elections were held in 1999 and nine parties were allowed to register but only three fulfilled the requirements to contest, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the All People’s Party (APP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD), with the former head of state, Olusegun Obasanjo, running as a candidate and winning the presidential election. The new government instituted a new constitution and created a 360 member House of Representatives and a 109 member Senate.

21^st Century History

Despite the new changes to the regime and the institution of democracy, all was not well as riots broke out over the succession of an Emir in Kaduna state and the retaliation of the military following the gang-killings of 12 policemen, both in 1999. Further riots broke out following the introduction of criminal Shar’ia in the state and further reprisal attacks that same year and the following year many were killed following religious violence in Jos, Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa. By the time the riots were brought under control by Obasanjo in 2001, over five thousand had been killed during the course of the riots. Obasanjo was re-elected as President in 2003.

In 2007, one of Kano’s State Officials, Ustaz Ja’afar Adam, was shot and killed by two militants of an unknown faction. In the same year, Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP were elected as President and Vice President respectively but it has widely been denounced by candidates and international observers with underhanded fraudulence. In 2009, Yar’Adua began falling ill repeatedly and was flown to Saudi Arabia for medical attention. In his absence, Goodluck Jonathan began serving as acting President and a year later Yar’Adua passed away from an undisclosed illness and Goodluck Jonathan became the President actual. 

Phrases

Above are a few common French phrases to help you get around.

Languages

Although Nigeria’s official language is English, this is only representative of the now-ended British Colonization efforts of Africa and as such doesn’t accurately depict the wild variety of languages spoken in the country. In actuality, Nigeria has one of the most diverse and varied range of languages spoken in the world, numbering over five hundred, and includes many indigenous languages as well as many more brought in by Europeans. English is spoken in many forms, often in a broken format known as Nigerian Pidgin English, but also sometimes mixed with parts of other languages of both European and African origin.

French is incredibly common throughout the country and is found in varied forms, often mixed with English or other native languages like in Benin and Cameroon. Also common are the Niger-Congo languages such as Fulfulde, Yoruba and Igbo, as well as Kanuri. Each ethnic group has a tendency to communicate within their own language entirely but English is still widely used for education as well as for both business and political purposes. Hausa is the most widespread indigenous language, despite not ever leaving the country due to the limited travels of its speakers beyond the boundaries of Nigeria.
 

Religion

Religion in Nigeria is concentrated mainly between two main bodies; Christianity (approximately 49%) and Islam (also approximately 49%), but it’s important to note that this varies greatly from region to region as in the north it’s vastly more Muslim and the south is much more Christian. Among the Christian populace, around 74% are Protestant, 25% are Catholic and the remaining 1% belong to other denominations, mainly Orthodox. Islam is not recorded in terms of denominations but Sunni Islam is most prevalent, closely followed by Shia and Sufi branches as well as Ahmadiyya and Mahdiyya minorities.

Minor religions in the country include Hinduism, Judaism, the Bahai Faith, Hare Krishna and a syncretic faith named Chrislam. Additionally, indigenous faiths such as the Yorubo and Irunmole spirituality are notable in the country and Atheism and Agnosticism also exists to some degree.

Museums, Galleries & Architecture

Architecture in Nigeria is majorly based on European colonial styles with equally prominent western modernist and contemporary buildings. With the rise of Islam there has been a similar rise in Arabic-inspired architecture and as the country was first colonized by England, the country also sees many religious structures of Gothic design including the various churches scattered across the region.

Indigenous architecture is limited where it exists and is only visible in the limited tribal settlements also exist.

Clothing, Dress Style & Etiquette

Nigerian clothing is incredibly diverse and represents a unique style only seen in the African continent. Mainly made out of Ankara, Adire, Lace and Jacquard as well as tie-died materials, Nigerians tend to opt for a loose-fitting style to better shield them from the heat of the sun while still allowing cool breezes to pass through. However, it should be noted that western-style clothing has become more and more prominent in recent decades.

Men traditionally wear a Fila (a type of cap) or Abeti-aja (a type of long cap), Sokoto (long loose trousers) and Agbada (a single-piece outfit composing together a long shirt with long trousers). Women tend to traditionally wear Iro (a rectangular piece of cloth wrapped around the waist like a shirt), Gele (another rectangular piece of cloth worn on the head in various ways), Iborun (a long scarf tied around the neck or worn diagonally on the body) and Kaba (a single-piece dress of varying styles). Both sexes are known to wear Buba (a type of long shirt or blouse) frequently.

Literature, Poetry, Music & Dance

Excluding English colonial writers living in Nigeria, the country has the vast majority of its writers debuting following the 1950s when Nigeria began to take independence. Notable 20^th Century writers include Ben Okri, Buchi Emecheta, T. M. Aluko, Daniel O. Fagunwa, Ken Saro Wiwa, Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka, the latter being the first African Nobel Laureate in Literature. 21^st Century writers include Chris Abani, Helon Habila, Nnedi Okorafor, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, Sefi Atta, Helen Oyeyemi, Kachi A. Ozumba, Chika Unigwe.

The most common and popular music genres in Nigeria are Jazz, Soul, Hiphop, Juju and Fuji, the latter two being traditional musical styles fused with Yoruba percussion. However, Nigeria’s sphere of influence on music has extended throughout the continent with inspirations driving forward African Music, Afrobeat, West African Highlife and Palm Wine Music.

Calendar & Events

The first holiday begins on January 1^st to celebrate New Years’ Day, then again a couple weeks later in mid-January for Id El Maulud. In Early March, Women’s Day is supported and upheld, then the March Equinox is additionally observed a couple weeks later.

Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Day and Easter Monday are celebrated and observed in mid-April, and then on the 1^st of May, another public holiday is given to celebrate Workers’ Day. Children’s Day and Democracy Day come around as additional public holidays at the end of May. June sees two more holidays on June 12^th and later on in the month to observe the June 12^th Commemoration and the June Solstice respectively.

Late July marks the start of Id el Kabir, another public holiday, which is then followed by the September Equinox in late September.

National Day is celebrated with another public holiday on October 1^st, then a few days later, Id El Kabir is celebrated as well. The December Solstice rolls around in mid-December which is followed by Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing day in quick succession a week later. Finally, the year ends with one more observance on December 31^st for New Years’ Eve. 

There is a plethora of clubs, bars, pubs and more all across Nigeria with the main concentration of the country’s nightlife being centred around Lagos, the capital. However, these groups do not have a strong online presence and so information about them is scarce at best. 

Money

The currency of Nigeria is the Naira, 1 Naira can be subdivided down into 100 Kobo. The Naira’s International Currency Code is NGN and 10 Naira is equal to about $0.06 or £0.04.

Coins are available in 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 Kobo variants.

Bank Notes are available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 variants.

Economy

Nigeria’s GDP is currently at around $510 Billion a year and mainly trades in Oil, Raw Metals and Minerals, Construction Materials, Processed Metals and Agricultural Products with minimal Processed Goods. Nigeria’s main trading partners are the United States (16.8%), India (12.1%) and the Netherlands (8.6%).
Nigeria’s biggest export is in Crude Petroleum, of which around 78% of all exports are made. To add to this, around 9% of all exports are in Petroleum Gas and 8% are Refined Petroleum, making around 95% of all exports in Oil.

Banking

Nigeria’s banking sector is as advanced as many western countries and a range of banks including many international banks are available throughout the country. Additionally, ATMs are available but typically both ATMs and Banking Services are only accessible in urban areas, so means of transporting money may need to be considered in some cases.

Accounts are available in two types like the ones in the west, these include the Current Account which offers quick accessibility to savings but offers a minimal interest rate, and the Savings Account which typically has less accessibility to savings but offers much higher interest rates.

Taxes

Nigerian residents are liable for Income Tax and Social Security.

Income Tax is applied on all Nigerian residents’ worldwide income and an individual is considered a Nigerian resident if they have stayed in the country for more than 183 days in a 12 month period. This includes salaries, wages, fees, allowances, pensions, bonuses, premiums, noncash benefits, gratuities, self-employment income, investments, dividends, interest, royalties, director’s fees, capital gains and amounts derived from the disposition of capital assets from land and buildings, options, debts and other property rights, any currency other than the Nigerian currency, any form of property created by the disposing person or otherwise coming to be owned without being acquired and movable assets including motor vehicles.

All residents have a Personal Allowance of NGN 200,000 (about $1,230 or £730) but are taxed at set intervals on allowance:

• NGN 200,001 – 300,000: 0-21,000 (0-7%)
• NGN 300,001 – 600,000: 21,001-54,000 (7-9%)
• NGN 600,001 – 1,100,000: 54,001-129,000 (9-11.7%)
• NGN 1,100,001 – 1,600,000: 129,001-224,000 (11.7-14%)
• NGN 1,600,001 – 3,200,000+: 224,001-560,000 (14-17.5%)

Social Security is contributed to at a rate of 15% of the employee’s total income and goes towards the Nigerian Pension Scheme. Additionally, all employees earning NGN 3,000+ a year must contribute 2.5% of their salary to the National Housing Fund. 

Nigerian Cuisine is very prominent in African culture and like many other African nations, sees heavy usage of spices and herbs combined with groundnut oil or palm oil to create strong sauces served alongside meats and vegetables. The usage of Chili Peppers in Nigerian cuisine is also extremely prominent and this in turn creates some of the hottest sauces across the continent.

Dishes may include Tuwo Shinkafa (a thick rice pudding usually served with goat or pumpkin stew, which in turn is often made with spinach, goat or mutton meat and smoked fish), Suya (grilled meat coated with ground chilli pepper and prepared barbecue style), Egusi soup (made with ground melon seeds, leaf vegetables, other vegetables seasonings and various meats), Amala (a thick paste made from yams) and Chin Chin (fried cookies made from wheat flour, eggs and butter).

Drinks are varied in nature and can include coconut milk, Zobo (made of roselle juice) Palm Wine and Fura da Nono (made of millet or sorghum and cow milk). 

VISA Requirements

All visitors to Nigeria require a visa unless they come from one of the following countries, of which, citizens do not require a visa:

• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde
• Chad
• Code d’Ivoire
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Liberia
• Mali
• Morocco
• Niger
• Senegal
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Togo

Additionally, Kenyan citizens may obtain a visa on arrival to stay for up to 90 days.

Citizens of Abuja whom have a written e-visa approval issues by the Immigration Authority Headquarters may obtain a visa on arrival providing they hold the following documents:

• A visa application form
• An e-visa application receipt
• An invitation letter from a Nigerian company accepting immigration responsibilities

Citizens of Brazil and China whom hold a diplomatic or official passport do not require a visa.

Health Care

Health Care in Nigeria is majorly dependant on one’s geographical location and class division with 70% of the health budget being spent in urban areas where only 30% of the population reside. Those with the money to afford it can afford a high quality of private health care, but those without that sort of financial support can still apply for the National Health Insurance Scheme and find public health care through those means. Throughout the country, eight regional psychiatric centres and 12 university medical schools provide mental health services along a few general hospitals, but herbalism and faith healing is also widespread.

One of the country’s biggest issues are the contamination of various drugs which have caused the deaths of 100 children in 1993, 11 children in 1996 and 84 children in 2009 due to the contamination of paracetemol syrup, various medications and teething medication respectively. Other big problems include a high infant mortality rate with around 28% of children passing away before the age of five and maternal mortality being at 840 per 100,000 births, high pollution due to traffic in Lagos and the existence of Yellow Fever, of which a vaccine has existed since the 1930s.

Nigeria also has the second largest number of people living with HIV in the country with 3.1% of all adults between the ages of 15 and 49 carrying the disease and with youths and young adults being more prone to the disease. This is widely due to prostitution & human trafficking, high risk practices by migrant workers & both high-risk heterosexual and homosexual practices and irregular blood screening.

Transportation

In West Africa, Nigeria has the highest amount of roads in its entirety, as well as the second largest south of the Sahara. The country has over 200 thousand kilometres of surfaced roads in operation but they are poorly maintained and often criticized as a source of traffic accidents and related fatalities in the country, often being so damaged that the asphalt has been reduced back down to gravel. Additionally, only around 60 thousand kilometres of that 200 thousand are paved.

Nigeria’s rail system has over 3600 kilometres of track with around 20 kilometres of this being dual gauge and the rest being standard gauge. This distance is split between two differing rail lines, one connecting Lagos to Yobe and the other connecting Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. Additionally, Nigeria is slowly setting up connections between neighbouring countries Niger and Cameroon. There’s also a Kano Railway being set up between Kano and Lagos, a Fast Rail being set up between Lagos and Abuja with rail transit lines from Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos city and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja’s city centre. In addition, the Okokomaiko-Marina Blue Line is planned to run between Marina and Okokomaiko.

The country also has a range of Ports and Harbours linking to the Atlantic Ocean as well as many waterways stretching over 8,600 kilometres inland. Among these areas, ports include Calabar, Onne, Sapele, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Warri, and 40 ships weighing over 1,000 gross register tons are docked which include  22 petroleum tankers, 12 cargo ships, 4 chemical tankers, 1 bulk carrier and 1 specialized tanker.

Airports are widespread through the country and include 56 airports in total, 38 of which having paved runways and 16 having unpaved runways. The biggest airports are Mallam Aminu International in Kano and Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, but many other international airports exist throughout the country. The biggest airlines are Air Nigeria and Nigeria Airways, of which the former is the country’s national flag carrier. There are also around 15 Heliports available in the country.

Embassies

Embassies in Nigeria include:

Algerian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Algeria in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot nr : 1398 Honorable Justice, Mamman Nasir Street Asokoro
 
City: Abuja
Phone: 234 9 314 28 40, 234 9 314 28 41
Fax: 234 9 314 28 42
Email: Informat@ambalglosanova.net.ng
 
Argentina
Argentinian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Argentina in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 1611 Yusuf Maitama Sule Street, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234) 9 314-8680/81/84
Fax: (+234) 9 314-8683
Email: enige@rosecom.net,enige@mrecic.gov.ar
Office Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
 
Australia
Australian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Australian High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria
5th Floor, Oakland Centre, 48 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234 9 461 2780
Fax: +234 9 461 2782
Website: http://www.nigeria.embassy.gov.au/
Email: ahc.abuja@dfat.gov.au
Office Hours: The High Commission is open from 8am to 4.30 pm Mondays to Thursdays and from 8am to 1pm on Fridays, except for public holidays.
 
Australia
Australian Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Australian Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
76 Norman Williams Street, SW Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: +234 1 270 1919, 897 4142
Website: http://www.nigeria.embassy.gov.au
Email: watson@strategy-safari.com
Details: Australia has a Consulate in Lagos headed by an Honorary Consul. The Consulate provides limited consular assistance which does not include the issue of Australian passports.
 
Austria
Austrian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Austria in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 9, Usuma Street, Maitama - Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234/706) 41 83 226 (Amt)
Fax: (+234/9) 461 2715
Email: abuja-ob@bmeia.gv.at
 
Austria
Austrian Consulate in Kaduna, Nigeria
 
Honorary Consulate of Austria in Kaduna, Nigeria
3a Kinkino Road, Kaduna, Nigeria
 
City: Kaduna
Phone: (+234/62) 247 705
Fax: (+234/62) 243 921
Email: office@austriaconsul.com
 
Barbados
Barbadian Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Honorary Consul of Barbados in Lagos, Nigeria
Penthouse, Yinka Folawiyo Plaza, 38 Warehouse Road, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (234) 1 4700252
Fax: 23415870068
Email: tunde.barbados@gmail.com
 
Belgium
Belgian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Belgium in Abuja, Nigeria
9, Usuma Street, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: + (234) (9) 413.18.59/60/61/62
+ (234) (9) 460.26.33/34/35
Fax: + (234) (9) 413.20.12
+ (234) (9) 413.20.15/460
Website: http://www.diplomatie.be/abuja
Email: Abuja@diplobel.fed.be
 
Belgium
Belgian Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Honorary Consulate of Belgium in Lagos, Nigeria
c/o Dredging Intern. Serv. Nigeria Ltd, 35A Alfred Rewane Road (formely Kingsway Road), Ikoyi - Lagos
 
City: Lagos
 
Brazil
Brazilian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Brazil in Nigeria
324 Diplomatic Drive , Central Business District , Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (00xx234) 803.5350118 (Consular Duty)
(00xx234) 803.5350119 (Diplomatic Duty)
Fax: (00xx234) 9-461.8687
Email: brasemb.abuja@itamaraty.gov.br
 
Bulgaria
Bulgarian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Bulgarian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
No 10, Euphrates street, off Aminu Kano Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: 00234 9 413 00 34
Fax: 00234 9 413 27 41
Email: bulembassy@yahoo.com
 
Cameroon
Cameroonian Embassy in Calabar, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Cameroon in Nigeria
BP : 863, Calabar
 
City: Calabar
Phone: 234-2393
Fax: 090565157
 
Canada
Canadian Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Deputy High Commission of Canada in Lagos, Nigeria
4 Anifowoshe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (011 234 1) 271-5650
Fax: (011 234 1) 271-5651
Website: http://www.nigeria.gc.ca
Email: lagos@international.gc.ca
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
 
Canada
Canadian Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
High Commission of Canada in Abuja, Nigeria
15 Bobo Street, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (011 234 9) 413 99 10
Fax: (011 234 9) 413-9932
Website: http://www.nigeria.gc.ca
Email: abuja@international.gc.ca
 
Canada
Canadian Consulate in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
 
Consulate of Canada in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
15, Ahoada Road, Rumuibekwe Housing Estate, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
 
City: Port Harcourt
Phone: 234 (84) 890-903
Emergency line for Canadians 234 8063 9970 54
Email: phconsul2004@yahoo.com
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
 
Chad
Chadian Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Chad in Lagos, Nigeria
2 Goriola Street, Victoria Island
 
City: Lagos
Phone: 234 1 261 2590
Fax: 234 1 261 8314
 
China
Chinese Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Chinese Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 302-303 Ao. Central Area Abuja
 
City: Abuja
Phone: 00234-9-4618661
00234-9-4618662
00234-9-4618664
Fax: 00234-9-4618660
Website: http://ng.chineseembassy.org/eng
Email: chinaemb_ng@mfa.gov.cn
 
China
Chinese Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Chinese Consulate General in Lagos, Nigeria
Plot 161A, Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: 2612586
Fax: 2715583
Website: http://lagos.china-consulate.org
Email: Chinaconsul_lg_ng@mfa.gov.cn
 
Cuba
Cuban Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Cuba in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 339 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: 461) 4821/22
Fax: (461) 4820
Website: http://www.cubadiplomatica.cu/nigeria
Email: embajada@ng.embacuba.cu
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10:00 am. and 12:00 pm Closed on holidays in Cuba
Details: Ambassador: Hugo Ramos Milanés
 
Cyprus
Cypriot Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Honorary Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Nigeria
A. G. Leventis Building , Iddo House, Oyingbo, Ebut-Metta , Lagos, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (002341) 2806706
Email: gfashina@agleventis.com,ckatsaras@agleventis.com
Office Hours: 08:00 17:00
 
Czech Republic
Czech Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Abuja, Nigeria
5, Gnassingbe Eyadema Street, , Asokoro, P.O.Box 4628 , Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234 703 757 10 96
Website: http://www.mfa.cz/abuja
Email: abuja@embassy.mzv.cz
Office Hours: Mo - Fr, 08:00 - 16:00
 
Denmark
Danish Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Royal Danish Consulate General in Lagos, Nigeria
Maersk House, 121 Louis Solomon Close, P.O.Box 72554, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: +234 (1) 262 6430, ext. 8101
Fax: +234 (1) 262 6428
Email: ngaconsuldk@maersk.com
Office Hours: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
 
Egypt
Egyptian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Egypt in Nigeria
No.8 Buzi Close, Off Amazon st., Maitama, Abuja
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+2349)4136091 - 4136092 - Dir 4136090
Fax: (+2349)4132602
 
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinean Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Equatorial Guinea in Lagos, Nigeria
P.O. Box 4126
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (234 1) 269 12 11
Fax: (234 1) 261 60 62
 
Eritrea
Eritrean Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of the State of Eritrea in Nigeria
Plot 1510 Yedseram street, off IBB way, , Maitama, Abuja
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234-8139856889
Fax: +234-9-413-6085
Email: eriemba_nigeria@yahoo.com
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 07:30 - 15:30
 
Ethiopia
Ethiopian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Ethiopia in Nigeria
Plot No 332 Cadastral Zone AO, Mission Road, Central District, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234) 09-4618641 or 42 or 43
Fax: (+234) 09-4618640
Email: etembabuja@yahoo.com
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
 
Finland
Finnish Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Finland in Abuja, Nigeria
9 Iro Dan Musa Street, Asokoro
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234 803 785 1150, (234-9) 314 7256, 341 6482
Fax: (234-9) 314 7252
Website: http://www.finlandnigeria.org
Email: sanomat.aba@formin.fi
Office Hours: Mon-Thu 08.00-16.15, Fri 08.00-13.15
 
France
French Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of France in Abuja, Nigeria
37 Udi Hills Street Off Aso Drive, Maitama - Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: [234] (9) 523 55 10 / 523 55 06
Fax: [234] (9) 523 54 82 / 523 52 84 (section consulair
Website: http://www.ambafrance-ng.org
Email: sec-amb.abuja-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr
 
France
French Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Consulate General of France in Lagos, Nigeria
Ikoyi Island - 1 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive
 
City: Lagos
Phone: [234] (1) 46 28 484
Fax: [234] (1) 46 28 480
Website: http://www.consulfrance-lagos.org/
Email: consulfrance.lagos@diplomatie.gouv.fr
 
Gabon
Gabonese Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Gabon in Lagos, Nigeria
8 Norman William Street , BP 5989
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (234-1) 68 45 66
Fax: (234-1) 269 0692
 
Germany
German Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Embassy of German in Nigeria, Lagos Office
15, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, P.O. Box 728
 
City: Lagos
Phone: +234 (1) 261 1011
Fax: +234 (1) 261 1173
Email: gembassylagos@micro.com.ng
Office Hours: Office Hours: 07:30 h - 15:00 h Visa Applicants: 07:00 h - 09:00 h
 
Ghana
Ghanaian Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
High Commission of Ghana in Nigeria
No 23b Oba Akinjobi street, Ikeja, GRA, close to Police command, Ikeja
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (+234-1) 614527
 
Greece
Greek Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Greece in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 6, Seguela Street, Wuse II, Off Ibb Way, P.O. Box 11525
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234 9 46 12 775 or 776, +234 9 78 22 762, +234 9 41 39 433 or 434
Fax: + 234 9 46 12 778, +234 9 41 39 435
Website: http://grembnigeria.mfa.gr/
Email: gremb_abj@mfa.gr
Office Hours: 09:00 - 16:00
Details: Head of Mission: H.E. Ambassador Haralambos Dafaranos
 
Greenland
Greenlandic Consulate in Lago, Nigeria
 
Royal Danish Consulate General in Nigeria
Maersk House, 121 Louis Solomon Close, P.O.Box 72554, Victoria Island, Lagos
 
City: Lago
Phone: +234 (1) 262 6430, ext. 8101
Fax: +234 (1) 262 6428
Email: ngaconsuldk@maersk.com
Details: The Faroe Islands and Greenland are part of the Kingdom of Denmark. As a main principle, the Danish Constitution stipulates that the foreign and security interests for all parts of the Kingdom of Denmark are the responsibility of the Danish government.
 
Honduras
Honduran Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Honduras in Nigeria
No. 61, Jose Marti Crescent, Asokoro
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (00 - 234 - 9) 314-1180, 314-1181,314-1183
Fax: (00 - 234 - 9) 314-1177
Website: http://www.mfa.gov.hu/emb/abuja
Email: mission.abv@kum.hu
 
Hungary
Hungarian Embassy in Asokoro, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Hungary in Asokoro, Nigeria
No. 61, Jose Marti Crescent, Plot 1685, Asokoro, , Abuja, Nigeria , P. O. BOX 5299
 
City: Asokoro
Phone: 706-478-6188
Fax: 9-3141177
Website: http://www.mfa.gov.hu/emb/abuja
Email: mission.abv@kum.hu
 
Hungary
Hungarian Consulate in Kaduna, Nigeria
 
Honorary Consulate of Hungary in Nigeria
Kaduna, 4 Abba Habib Road , P. O. Box 2958
 
City: Kaduna
Phone: 234-204; Mobile: (00-234)-803-311-7578
Fax: 240-456
Email: hunconskad@yahoo.co.uk
 
Hungary
Hungarian Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Honorary Consulate of Hungary in Nigeria
Azosik Brothers International Limited Shop F-5 , V.G.C. Shopping Complex , Victoria Garden City, Epe Expressway, Ikota, Lagos
 
City: Lagos
Phone: 461-9618
Fax: 461-9617
Email: billyaigbe@yahoo.com
 
India
Indian Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
High Commission of India in Lagos, Nigeria
8-A, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island
 
City: Lagos
Phone: 00-234-1-2627680, 2615909
Fax: 00-234-1-2612660
Website: http://www.hicomindlagos.com/
Email: hclag@hyperia.com
 
India
Indian Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
High Commission of India in Abuja, Nigeria (Branch Office)
Plot No. 684 (A&B), Agdez Crescent, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse-II
 
City: Abuja
Phone: 00-234-9-5236099
Fax: 00-234-9-5236088
Email: hicomindabj@linkserve.com
 
Indonesia
Indonesian Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Indonesia in Lagos, Nigeria
5 Anifowoshe Street, Victoria Island, Abuja, Lagos, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (234-1) 261-4601
Fax: (234-1) 261-3301
Website: http://www.indonesianig.com
Email: kbri_lagos@yahoo.co.id
Office Hours: Monday to Thursday 10:00 am to 12:00 noon; 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
 
Ireland
Irish Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Ireland in Nigeria
No 11 Negro Crescent, Maitama District
 
City: Abuja
Phone: + 234 9 4620611
Fax: + 234 9 4131805 + 234 9 4620613
Website: http://www.embassyofireland.org.ng
Email: abujaembassy@dfa.ie
Details: Ambassador: His Excellency Patrick Fay
 
Israel
Israeli Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Israel in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 12, Mary Slessor Street, Off Udo Udoma Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja, P.O.Box 10924, Garki
 
City: Abuja
Phone: 234 9 3143170; 234 9 6739552
Fax: 234 9 3143177
Website: http://abuja.mfa.gov.il
Email: consular-assist@abuja.mfa.gov.il
Office Hours: Monday - Friday : 10:00 - 13:00
 
Italy
Italian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Italy in Abuja, Nigeria
21st Crescent, Off Constitution Avenue Central, Business District, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234 09 5244036
Fax: +234 09 5244034
Website: http://www.ambabuja.esteri.it
Email: ambasciata.abuja@esteri.it
 
Italy
Italian Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
General Consulate of Italy in Lagos, Nigeria
12, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island - Lagos
 
City: Lagos
Phone: 0023414627419
Fax: 00234-1- 4627418
Website: http://www.conslagos.esteri.it
Email: visti.lagos@esteri.it
 
Jamaica
Jamaican Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Jamaican High Commission, Abuja
3rd Floor, NICON Plaza, 242 Muhammadu Buhari Way Central Area District, Abuja, N
 
City: Abuja
Phone: 234 9 780 6809 / 08036008758 / 08136063356
Email: jamaicanembassy@yahoo.com; jhcommission@yahoo.com
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:30am to 4pm Friday 8:30am - 3pm
Details: High Comissioner: His Excellency Robert E. Miller Countries of Accreditation: Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Senegal
 
Japan
Japanese Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Japan in Nigeria
No. 9 Bobo Street (off Gana Street), , Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria, (P.M.B. 5070 WUSE)
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234-9-413-8898 / 9258 / 9718 - 19
Fax: (870) 600-315-545
 
Kenya
Kenyan Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
High Commission of the Republic of Kenya in Abuja, Nigeria
21 Yedseram Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 5160, Wuse Head Office
 
City: Abuja
Phone: + 234 9 4139 155
Fax: + 234 9 4139 157
Email: kenyahi@alpha.lindserve.com
Details: Other countries of Accreditation: Republic of Cote DIvoire, Togo, Republic of Ghana, Liberia, Benin, Sierra Leone
 
Malaysia
Malaysian Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
High Commission of Malaysia in Abuja, Nigeria
No. 2 Pechora Close, off Panama Street, Maitama, P.M.B 5217 Wuse
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234-9-413-3918 +234-9-413-3919
Fax: +234-9-782 2671
Website: http://www.kln.gov.my/perwakilan/abuja
Email: malabuja@kln.gov.my, losinfo@kln.gov.my
Office Hours: Work day: Monday - Friday : 0830hrs -1630hrs Consular Section/Visa Application/Collection: 0900hrs-1230hrs (Procession period - 5 working days) Holiday: Saturday & Sunday
 
Mali
Malian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Mali in Nigeria
IBB Boulvad, Plot 465, Maitama
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234-9) 5230494
Email: infomaliembassy@yahoo.com
Office Hours: 9am - 4pm
 
Malta
Maltese Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Honorary Consulate of Malta in Lagos, Nigeria
10 Atinuke Olabanji Street, PO Box 2688, Ikeja, Lagos State
 
City: Lagos
Phone: 00234 1 470 6009, 879 3880
Fax: 00234 497 1014/15
Email: maltaconsul.lagos@gov.mt, maltaconsul@yahoo.com
 
Morocco
Moroccan Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 1306 Udo Udoma Crescent,, Asokoro, Abuja
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234 1 2611682
Fax: +234 1 2612269
 
Namibia
Namibian Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
High Commission of Namibia in Abuja, Nigeria
Namibian High Commission, Plot 1738 T.Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro, P.M.B 5097, Wuse
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234) 9-314-2740/1/2/4
Fax: (+234) 9-314-2743
Email: namibiahcabuja@premiernetng.net
Details: High Commissioner: Mr. Philemon Kambala
 
Netherlands
Dutch Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Royal Netherlands Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
21st Crescent, off Constitution Avenue,, Central Business District
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234-(0)9-4611200
Fax: +234-(0)9-4611240
Website: http://www.mfa.nl/abj-en/
Email: abj@minbuza.nl
Office Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:00
 
Norway
Norwegian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Royal Norwegian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
54, T.Y. Danjuma Street, , Asokoro
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234 (0) 9 314 91 27/28/29 or 30
Fax: +234 (0) 9 314 93 09
Website: http://http://www.emb-norway.com.ng/Embassy/embassy/
Email: emb.abuja@mfa.no, visa.abuja@mfa.no
Office Hours: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 16:00
Details: H.E. Ambassador Kjell Lillerud
 
Pakistan
Pakistani Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
High Commission of Pakistan in Abuja, Nigeria
1805 Samora Michel Street, Off Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234) (9) 3141650
Fax: (+234) (9) 3141652
Email: pahicabuja@yahoo.com
 
Pakistan
Pakistani Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Pakistan in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot No.4 (Old Number 1805), Samora Machel Street, , Asokoro
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234 9 3141650
Fax: +234 9 314165
Email: pahicabuja@yahoo.com, pakembnig@nova.net.ng, pahiclagos@nova.net.ng
 
Palestine
Palestinian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Palestine Embassy in Nigeria
Plot 346, Diplomatic Drive, Behind U.N House, Central Area
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234 9 4611420; +2348035873641
Fax: +234 9 4611437
Email: palestine_emb_abuja@yahoo.com
 
Palestine
Palestinian Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Palestine in Abuja, Nigeria
No. 34 Labito Crescent Wuse 2 , Abuja, Nigeria, -, -
 
City: Abuja
Phone: 2349-4135311/0528-9
Fax: 2349-4135308
Website: http://-
Email: ngemb@mofa-gov.ps
 
Philippines
Filipino Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of the Philippines in Abuja, Nigeria
No. 2 Kainji St., corner Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama District, FCT Abuja,, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234) 8051752187
Fax: (002349) 413-7650
Email: abuja_pe@yahoo.co.uk, philemb_abuja@yahoo.co.uk
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m
Details: H.E. (Mr.) Nestor N. Padalhin Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
 
Poland
Polish Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Poland in Nigeria
10, Ona Crescent Off Lake Chad, Off IBB Way, , Plot 775, Maitama 900271
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234.8076631021
Website: http://www.abuja.polemb.net/
Email: abuja.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl
 
Romania
Romanian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Romania in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot No.498, Nelson Mandela Street, Zone A4, Asokoro, Abuja, FCT, or P.O.Box 10376 Garki
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (00) (234) (9) 3142304 or 3142305
Fax: (00) (234) (9) 3142306
Email: romnig@gmail.com
 
Russia
Russian Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Russia in Lagos, Nigeria
5, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (+234-1) 261-22-67, 261-50-22, 261-33-59
Fax: (+234-1) 461-99-94
Email: RusEmLagos@vgccl.net
 
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Saudi Arabian Embassy in Nigeria
The Royal Embassy Of Saudi Arabia No.6, Orange close Off Thames Street Off Alvan lkoku Way, Ministers' Hill Maitama , Abuja
 
City: Abuja
Phone: 002347098221442/ 0023497822675
Fax: 00234134906
Website: http://www.mofa.gov.sa/sites/mofaen/SaudiMissionsAbroad/SaudiEmbassiesAbroad/Africa/Pages/EmbassyID40903.aspx
Email: ngemb@mofa.gov.sa
Office Hours: From 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.
 
Senegal
Senegalese Embassy in Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria
 
Senegalese Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
14, Kofo Abayomi Road , PO Box 2197
 
City: Victoria Island Lagos
Phone: +234-1-611722
 
Serbia
Serbian Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Serbia in Nigeria
7, Maitama Sule Street, S/W IKOYI , PO Box 978
 
City: Lagos
Phone: +234-1-2690912 / +234-1-2694202
Fax: +234-1-2691889
Email: embscgnig@nova.net.ng
 
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leonean Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Sierra Leone High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 308 Mission Road, Diplomatic Zone, FCT, Abuja Federal Republic of Nigeria, -, -, -
 
City: Abuja
Phone: 23492346179
Fax: 23492346179
Website: http://-
Email: slhcnig@yahoo.com
 
Singapore
Singaporean Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore - Nigeria (Lagos)
3rd Floor, Lagoon View Plaza, Plot A4, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island
 
City: Lagos
Phone: +234-1-4619088
Fax: +234-1-4610828
Email: hcg.sin.ng@gmail.com, shabbir_hassanbhai@sgmfa.gov.sg
 
Slovakia
Slovak Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Slovakia in Nigeria
No. 14 Lord Lugard Street, P.M.B. 582
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234-9) 3143731/+234-9-3143732
Fax: (+234-9) 3143730
Website: http://www.mzv.sk/Abuja
Email: zusrnigeria@yahoo.com
 
South
Permanent Mission in Abuja, Nigeria
 
South African High Commission in Abuja
71 Usuma Street off Gana Street, Maitama Abuja, -, -, -
 
City: Abuja
Phone: + 234 9 462 4200
Fax: + 234 9 413 3776
Website: http://-
Email: irozani@gmail.com
 
South Africa
South African Permanent Mission in Abuja, Nigeria
 
South African High Commission in Abuja
71 Usuma Street off Gana Street, Maitama Abuja, -, -, -
 
City: Abuja
Phone: + 234 9 462 4200
Fax: + 234 9 413 3776
Website: http://-
Email: irozani@gmail.com
 
Spain
Spanish Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Spain in Nigeria
no 1 bamidele crescent ori-okuta abuja
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234-9-4137091 / +234-9-4137093
Fax: +234-9-4137095
Email: embespng@mail.mae.es
 
Spain
Spanish Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Consulate of Spain in Nigeria
21 Cs Kofo Abayomi Road
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (+234-1)-2615215 / 2614918 / 2616083
Fax: +234-1-2618225
 
Sudan
Sudanese Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Sudan in Lagos, Nigeria
6, Str. Barajul Arges, SECTOR 1
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (021)233.9181 , (021)233.9187
Fax: (021)2339188
Website: http://www.sudanembassy.ro/contact
Email: sudanbuc@sudanembassy.ro, sudanirom@yahoo.com
 
Sweden
Swedish Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Sweden in Abuja, Nigeria
41 T. Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro District, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234 (9) 314 33 99
Fax: +234 (9) 314 33 98
Website: http://www.swedenabroad.com/abuja
Email: ambassaden.abuja@foreign.ministry.se
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 12 noon Visa (applications and processing):Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 12 noon Phone hours 8.30 to 10 a.m.
 
Sweden
Swedish Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Honorary Consulate of Sweden, Lagos
17, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: +234 (1) 461 60 00
Fax: +234 (1) 461 60 20
Email: leif.edwall@ericsson.com
 
Switzerland
Swiss Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Switzerland in Abuja, Nigeria
No 157, Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent , Wuse II Abuja 900288, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: 0041 31 324 18 61 / 00234 9 413 10 81
Fax: 0041 31 324 18 64
Website: http://www.eda.admin.ch/abuja
Email: abu.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 08:00-17:00 Friday 08:00-12:00
 
Syria
Syrian Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic
25 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos,Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (+234-1) 2618963
 
Taiwan
Taiwanese Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
The Trade Mission of the ROC Taiwan in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Plot 3175, Katsina,, Ala Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (002-234-9) 4138321
Fax: (002-234-9) 4138326
Email: roctm@alpha.linkserve.com
 
Tanzania
Tanzanian Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
High Commission of Tanzania in Abuja, Nigeria
11, Ganges Street, Ministers Hill,, Maitama
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234) 9 4132313/12
Fax: (+234) 9 4132314
Email: tanabuja@lycos.com
Office Hours: 08:00hrs - 15:00hrs
 
Tanzania
Tanzanian Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Tanzania in Nigeria
8 Agoro Odiyan Street, Victoria Island
 
City: Lagos
Phone: +234-1-613604
Fax: +234-1-610016 / +234-1-618908
 
Thailand
Thai Embassy in MaitamaAbuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Thailand in Nigeria
Royal Thai Embassy, 24 Tennesse Cresent, Off Panama Street, MaitamaAbuja, NIGERIA
 
City: MaitamaAbuja
Phone: 00234 9780 5400
Fax: 00234 9413 5193
Email: thaiabj@mfa.go.th
 
Togo
Togolese Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Togo in Nigeria
P.O.Box 1435, Plot 976 Oju Olobun Close, Lagos, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (+234-1) 2617478, 2617448, 2617449
Fax: (+234-1) 2617478
 
Tunisia
Tunisian Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Tunisia in Nigeria
Plot 79, Younis Basorun Street, Victoria Island
 
City: Lagos
Phone: +234-1-2618150
 
Turkey
Turkish Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Turkey in Lagos, Nigeria
3. OKUNOLA MARTINS CLOSE, P.O.BOX: 1758 S.W. IKOYI,LAGOS
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (234-1) 269 11 40
Fax: 234-1) 269 30 40
Email: turkemb@infoweb.abs.net
 
Turkey
Turkish Consulate in Kano, Nigeria
 
Consulate of Turkey in Nigeria
13, Bello Road, PO Box 2589
 
City: Kano
Phone: +234-064-632397 / +234-064-633374
Fax: +234-064-632395
 
Turkey
Turkish Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Turkish Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
No. 5, Amazon Street, ( Minister Hill) Maitama A 6
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +234-9-4139787/+234-9-4138692/ +234-9-4138693
Fax: +234-9-4139457
Email: contact@turkembabuja.com, visa@turkembabuja.com, commercial@turkembabuja.com
 
Uganda
Ugandan Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Uganda in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 28Ontario Crescent, Off Mississippi Street, Ministers' Hill Maitama
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234-9) 4138069
Fax: (+234-9) 4138070
Email: ugandabuja@surichtech.com
 
Uganda
Ugandan Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
High Commission of Abuja, Uganda
Ladi Kwali Way, Maitama, P.M.B. 143, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+243-9) 804384
Fax: (+243-9) 5234826
 
Ukraine
Ukrainian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria
Plot 1273, Parakou Crescent, off Nairobi Street, Wuse II
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234-9)-5239577 / 5240087 / 5240088
Fax: +234-9-5239578
Website: http://www.ukraineinfo.gov.ua/main
Email: emb_ng@mfa.gov.ua
 
United Kingdom
British Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
British High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria
Dangote House, Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama District, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (00234) (9) 462 3200
Fax: (00234) (9) 413 2010/2011/3885-7
Website: http://ukinnigeria.fco.gov.uk/en/
Email: information.abuja@fco.gov.uk, commercial.abuja@fco.gov.uk, abuja.visacustomercare@fco.gov.uk
Office Hours: Mon-Fri: 0700-1430
Local Time: Mon-Fri: 0800-1530
 
United Kingdom
British Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, Nigeria
11 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (00 234) (1) 2619531, 2619537, 2619541
Fax: (00 234)(1) 2614021 or 2625940
Email: consular.lagos@fco.gov.uk,visa.lagos@fco.gov.uk
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 0730 - 1530 Friday 0730 - 1230
 
United Kingdom
British Consulate in Kano, Nigeria
 
Honorary Consulate of United Kingdom in Kano, Nigeria
Tamandu Court, 5 Tamandu Close, Nassarawa, Kano, Nigeria
 
City: Kano
Phone: (00 234) (64) 631686
Fax: (00 234) (64) 632590
Email: bhckan@ecnx.net
 
United Kingdom
British Consulate in Warri, Nigeria
 
Honorary Consulate of United Kingdom in Warri, Nigeria
Unit 6, Jefia Estate, 62 Enerhen Road, Warri, Delta State
 
City: Warri
Phone: (00 234) (53) 245523 or 255929
Fax: (00 234) (53) 245523 or 255929
Email: melhenthorn@hyperia.com
 
United States
American Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of the United States in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area,, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (234)-9-461-4000
Fax: (234)-9-461-4036
Website: http://abuja.usembassy.gov/
Email: Consularabuja@state.gov, pasinfoabuja@state.gov, pasinfoabuja@state.gov
Details: The Consular Section of the Lagos Embassy has responsibility for providing services to American Citizens as well as adjudicating immigrant and non-immigrant visas. The American Citizens Services (ACS) includes passport services special citizenship services - such as administering Social Security, Veterans Administration and Civil Service needs, income tax information, voter registration, and notarial services; protection and welfare services for destitute Americans or missing Americans, provide information about local and international travel advisories, assist detained or imprisoned Americans, provide information to American travelers, register Americans and disseminate information of a routine or emergency nature to the American community. The current concerns are fraud and corruption, business scams targeting foreigner ("419"), drug trafficking and the implementation of the Presidential Proclamation of December, 1993 disallowing visas for Nigerians who promote or benefit from policies that hinder the transition to democracy.
 
Uruguay
Uruguayan Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Consulate of Uruguay in Nigeria
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area,, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: +234-1-617063 / +234-1-614107
Fax: +234-1-261 94 77
Email: conurunig@yahoo.com
 
Venezuela
Venezuelan Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of Venezuela in Nigeria
Plot 1631HON, Justice Sowewimo Street,, Asokoro District, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: +2349-3140900
Fax: +2349-3140901
Email: embavenez-nig@nova.net.ng
 
Venezuela
Venezuelan Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Consulate of Venezuela in Nigeria
35B, Adet-kunbo Ademola Street Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: +234-1-2611590
Fax: +234-1-2617350
Email: embavenez.nig@net.ng
 
Western Sahara
Sahrawian, Sahraouian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Embassy of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234-9) 413 6980
Fax: (+234-9) 413 6980
Email: embsahrawi@hotmail.com
 
Zambia
Zambian Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria
 
Zambia High Commission in Lagos, Nigeria
P.O.Box 6119, Lagos, Nigeria
 
City: Lagos
Phone: (+234-1) 2690426 /7
Fax: (+234-1) 2690426
 
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria
 
Consulate of Zimbabwe in Abuja , Nigeria
Plot 2908, Caclastral Zone A6, Maitama District, P.O.Box 8214 Wuse, Abuja, Nigeria
 
City: Abuja
Phone: (+234-9) 4137996 / 4133624 / 4132264 / 5237996
Fax: +234-9-4137644

Phone Lines

Nigeria uses the calling code +234 and has over 300 million phone lines connected (including those that use a wireless signal). The country uses 3 Intelsat Satellite earth stations (1 being in the Indian Ocean and 2 being in the Atlantic Ocean) and several submarine cables for international connections including SAT-3/WASC/SAFE, ACE, GLO-1, Main One and WASACE which link mainly to Europe, Asia and the Americas.

There are numerous phone providers whom operate country-wide including Airtel, Etisalat, MTN Nigeria and Globacom and mobile phones today number over 88 million with a majority of people having multiple mobile phones.

Internet

The internet services in Nigeria use the top-level domain .ng and today have over 56 million users, ranking them 8^th in the world with around a third of the population online. There are over 15 thousand subscriptions to fixed broadband and over 17 million wireless broadband subscriptions. Within Nigeria, there are around 100 Internet Service Providers as well as satellite Internet access. In recent years, many people have begun accessing the internet via smartphones and a multitude of internet cafes have opened up.

Despite freedom of speech being widely accepted across the country, there has been some policing on politically-sensitive matters with reporting on corruption and security being particularly sensitive, although reporters and civil servants have been taken to court for defamation of allegedly corrupt politicians, none have been jailed thus far.

Communications

Today, there are over 57 million Television sets and over 30 million Radio sets in the country with over 70 TV stations and over 130 Radio stations set up throughout the country, around 50 being government owned for each. Due to the high costs of TV sets and Newspapers, people stay in the loop primarily through the less-expensive radio and often listen in on International Broadcasts as well.

Through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the government is able to effectively control electronic media and has been known to politically censor radio stations and limit international exposure of TV stations. It’s also important to know that journalists in the country who have reported via TV, Radio or Newspaper about politically sensitive matters have known to be harassed, detained and even beaten by security forces. 

Weather & Climate

Due to Nigeria’s geographical location and varied height elevations, Nigeria has four different climate types based on the location.
In the north along the Niger border is the Tropical Dry Climate type which sees low rainfall and temperatures that rise up as high as 40 degrees Centigrade (104 Fahrenheit).

In the south the Tropical Rainforest Climate is found which sees a high degree of rainfall (with the annual often at over 4000mm) with a consistent, but humid, temperature range with summers rising as high as 28 degrees Centigrade (82.4 Fahrenheit) and dropping as low as 26 degrees Centigrade (78.8 Fahrenheit) in the winters.

Further to the west the Tropical Savanna Climate can be observed which sees wildly fluctuating rainfall from very heavy in the rainy season and almost none in the dry season (with annual rainfall at around 1500-2000mm), with summers soaring as high as 36.9 degrees Centigrade (98.42 Fahrenheit) and winters plummeting as low as 18.45 degrees Centigrade (65.21 Fahrenheit).

All areas above 1500 metres above sea level are susceptible to the Highland Climate which gives them an extremely cool climate range all year around.

Holidays

Four Points in Lagos is renowned for its premium quality service, cool refreshing rooftop pool and chilled out bar, the hotel is located right next to some of the top restaurants in Lagos and is situated right in the city centre. The hotel is also known to hold a variety of musical evenings and hosts live bands as entertainment for its guests.

InterContinental Lagos has many rooms that have been beautifully furnished in such a way as to promote a positive, welcoming, safe and comfortable atmosphere. But if you’re looking to get out of your room, there’s also a private gym for its guests and the hotel offers an optional room service for those who would like peace of mind.

With attentive staff providing a first-class service throughout your stay, you’ll never be left high and dry in The Wheatbaker in Lagos. The hotel has many gorgeously furnished rooms and the staff’s work ethic is one to beat! If you want a top-quality, top-notch service with deliciously delectable food, then this destination is for you!

For a real life in the lap of luxury, The Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos provides exactly what you’re looking for! With prompt breakfasts every morning and incredibly dedicated staff, trained to suit their guests’ requirements flawlessly, you’ll wonder why you didn’t discover The Federal Palace Hotel sooner!
Southern Sun Ikoyi in Lagos is known for having sharply trained and efficient staff members whom are renowned for their friendliness and dedication. The hotel itself also features a gym and a range of food for each meal for each and every one of its guests. 

Children going into Nigeria do not require any additional documents that an adult would not require.

Cats, Dogs and Ferrets require several documents in order to be transported into the country:

• An Approved Import Permit
• A Rabies Vaccination between 30 days and 12 months prior to entry with a copy of the Rabies Certificate
• A Blood Titer Test three months or more prior to entry
• A Bi-Lingual Veterinary Certificate for Nigeria completed by a USDA or CFIA accredited Veterinarian or endorsed by a Governmental Authority for animals or agriculture

It’s also advisable to have your cat or dog microchipped, even though it is not required. 

Public Schools in Nigeria are overseen by the Ministry of Education but give regional authorities responsibility for implementing policy for state-controlled public education and state schools at a regional level. Private Schools are available but are considered to be extremely expensive with yearly fees typically ranging between NGN 160,000 and 320,000 ($990-$1,980 or £590-£1,180). The Education system is divided into four stages: Kindergarten, Primary Education, Secondary Education and Tertiary Education.

Primary Education has been made both free and compulsory by the Universal Basic Education Commission and involves six years of education supporting Yoruba, Igbo, French, English and other languages (dependant on the school) as well as, in some cases, Computer Science, Fine Arts and Literacy classes. Upon graduating Primary School, students are required to take a Common Entrance Exam to qualify for admission into Secondary School.

Secondary Education is also compulsory, but not free, albeit being very cheap (around NGN 16,000 or $99 or £59 a year). They consist of six years of education split into two three-year tiers (Junior Secondary School and Senior Secondary School). Upon reaching Senior Secondary School, students begin taking GCE O Level Exams to prepare them for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination with the final Exam being taken at the end of the last year of secondary school. Private Schools are also available but again these fees reflect the ones for Primary School Education and can be quite expensive. Several government-owned institutions are also highly regarded for producing prominent individuals in multiple career paths and these schools are often seen as elite schools and include King’s College and Queen’s College, both in Lagos.

If criteria needed for admission is met, a student may enter Tertiary Education through a University, most universities require a minimum of SSCE or GCE Ordinary Level Credits in two sittings, a JAMB of 180 and above out of a maximum of 400 marks or a Merit Pass in a National Certificate of Education, a National Diploma or another Advanced Level Certificate with a minimum of 5 O Level Credits. University is entered normally at age 18 and allows a student to study for an academic degree. Courses last varying lengths dependant on the field but typically range from 4 to 6 years.

Teachers wishing to work in Nigeria will require a native-level of English speaking and a B.Ed or a relevant Bachelor’s Degree alongside a Teaching Qualification, all obtained in the west (UK, US, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa) as well as 2 Years of teaching experience.

It should be mentioned that candidates with International experience will have an edge and that although TEFL and similar certificates are not noted as teaching qualifications, candidates with these qualifications in addition to the other qualifications will be preferred.

Always make sure to check our guide on Visa and Work Permits. 

Living expenses in Nigeria are extremely cheap with a meal at a restaurant costing between NGN 1500-7200 ($9.20-$44 or £5.50-£26), a litre of water costing around NGN 260 ($1.60 or £0.95), a litre of milk costs about NGN 390 ($2.40 or £1.40), 500g of bread costing around NGN 230 ($1.40 or £0.84) and 12 eggs costing about NGN 390 ($2.40 or £1.40).

Meanwhile luxuries are comparable with a litre of beer costing around NGN 540 ($3.30 or £2), a bottle of mid-range wine costing around NGN 1200 ($7.40 or £4.40) and a packet of cigarettes costing around NGN 250 ($1.50 or £0.92).

Monthly Rent is also very similar, as a 3 bedroom apartment in the City Centre will cost you around NGN 260,000 ($1600 or £950) whilst outside it’ll only be about NGN 98,000 ($600 or £360). A 1 bedroom apartment however will cost you NGN 96,000 ($590 or £350) in the City Centre and NGN 42,000 ($260 or £150) outside that location. 

Although there are a range of clubs and organizations within Nigeria, due to the protest-culture that is widely used throughout the country, even by clubs of non-political nature, it is advised to avoid any political engagement as this can frequently lead to violence. 

Nigeria’s biggest issues are those in political corruption, piracy, financial crime and organized crime, the latter of which being most frequent.
Organized crime is responsible for much of the drugs trafficking and violence in the region, as well as the drug trafficking worldwide. What are even more disturbing are the campus cults, or confraternities, academics that turn to gang-related crime as part of a cult-like behaviour.

Financial crime is most prevalent in a type of bank fraud called 419, also known as the Nigerian Scam. The scam involves convincing the victim that they will receive a large sum of money in return for their bank details and a seemingly-nominal fee in comparison to the sum of money itself, in actuality the victim never receives any money and instead their account is often hijacked and drained.

Piracy, despite being less significant, is still prevalent in the region and usually involves sea-bound attacks on smaller ships, often stealing oil and holding employees or passengers for random. During 2007, over 26 pirate attacks took place in Nigerian waters.

Political corruption has become better with time but the effects are still being felt with over $400 billion being stolen from Nigeria’s treasury by its leaders during the 20^th Century. Transparency International ranks Nigeria as the 143^rd least corrupt country in the world out of 182 countries. 

Emergency Numbers

• General Emergency - 199