Nigeria
Country Specific Information
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July 16, 2012

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Nigeria is a developing country in western Africa that has experienced periods of political and communal violence. It has the largest population on the continent, estimated at over 150 million people, and its infrastructure is not fully functional or well-maintained. Please read the Department State’s Background Notes on Nigeria for additional information.

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SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP) / EMBASSY LOCATION: If you are going to live in or visit Nigeria, please take the time to tell our Embassy and/or Consulate about your trip. If you enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, we can keep you informed of important safety and security announcements. It will also help your friends and family get in touch with you in an emergency. 

Local embassy information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates.

U.S. Embassy Abuja
1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central Area, Abuja
Telephone: 234 (9) 461-4176 during office hours (Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.).
For after-hours emergencies, call 234 (9) 461-4000

U.S. Consulate General Lagos
2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos
Telephone: 234 (1) 460-3600 during office hours (Monday through Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.).
For after-hours emergencies, call 234 (1) 460-3400 or 0805-301-0268.

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ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: Visitors to Nigeria require a passport and a Nigerian visa to enter the country, and should obtain the visa in advance from a Nigerian embassy or consulate. In most cases, visas cannot be obtained on arrival at the airport. Promises of entry into Nigeria without a visa are strong indicators of fraudulent commercial schemes in which the perpetrators seek to exploit the foreign traveler's illegal presence in Nigeria through threats of extortion or bodily harm. Moreover, you cannot legally depart Nigeria unless you can prove, by presenting your entry visa, that you entered Nigeria legally. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers over one year of age arriving within six days from infected areas. Visit the Embassy of Nigeria web site for the most current visa and entry information.

HIV/AIDS RESTRICTIONS: Some HIV/AIDs entry restrictions exist for visitors and foreign residents of Nigeria. Nigerian authorities have the discretion to deny entry to foreigners who are “undesirable for medical reasons,” and may require HIV tests for foreigners intending to marry Nigerian citizens. Please verify this information with the Embassy of Nigeria before you travel.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.

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THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria, and continues to recommend that U.S. citizens avoid all but essential travel to the following states because of the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks: Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Yobe, Bauchi, Borno, and Kano states. The Department also warns against travel to the Gulf of Guinea because of the threat of piracy. (Please also see the Crime Section below.) Based on safety and security risk assessments, travel by U.S. officials to all northern Nigerian states (in addition to those listed above) must receive advance clearance by the U.S. Mission as being mission-essential. U.S. citizens should be aware that in light of the continuing violence, extremists may expand their operations beyond northern Nigeria to the country's southern states. An extremist group based in northeast Nigeria known as Boko Haram is credited for widespread attacks in northern Nigeria over the last year that resulted in hundreds of deaths. 

In December 2011, the President of Nigeria declared a state of emergency in 15 local government areas in the states of Borno, Niger, Plateau, and Yobe. This State of Emergency remains in effect. According to the Government of Nigeria, the declaration of a State of Emergency is a response to extremist groups’ continued violence. The State of Emergency gives the government sweeping powers to search and arrest without warrants.

From January to June 2012, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for many attacks, mainly in northern Nigeria, killing and wounding thousands of people. Multiple Suicide Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (SVBIED) attacks targeted churches, government installations, educational institutions, and entertainment venues in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe states. Since January, extremists have engaged government forces in gun battles in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, and Yobe states, and shot at people at churches. In April, VBIEDs were simultaneously detonated at “This Day” newspaper offices in Abuja and Kaduna. 

Boko Haram claimed credit for the August 2011 suicide bombing at the United Nations building and the June 2011 bombing of the Nigerian Police Headquarters building, both in Abuja. The movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta took credit for two car bombs that detonated during Nigeria’s Independence Day celebrations in 2010 in the capital city.     

Kidnappings continue to be a security concern. In the first six months of 2012, five foreign nationals, including two U.S. citizens, were kidnapped in Kwara, Imo, Enugu, Delta, and Kano states. Since January 2009, criminals or militants have abducted more than 145 foreign nationals in Nigeria, including nine U.S. citizens since November 2010, from off-shore and land-based oil facilities, residential compounds, and public roadways. Nine foreign nationals have died in connection with these abductions, including three who were killed by their captors during military-led rescues this year.

Travel by foreigners to conflict areas without prior consultation and coordination with local security authorities is not recommended, as the Nigerian government may see this activity as inappropriate and potentially illegal, and may detain violators. Nigerian authorities detained six U.S. citizens, including journalists, on six separate occasions in 2008. The Nigerian government questioned these U.S. citizens for lengthy periods without bringing formal charges, and ultimately deported them. Journalists, film-makers, and other professionals involved in the creation of news or information products require special accreditation from the Nigerian Ministry of Information for all film and media activities in the Niger Delta prior to entering the area. This special accreditation is in addition to the general press accreditation and valid Nigerian visa required to conduct such activities elsewhere in Nigeria.

Moreover, foreign visitors are not allowed to take photographs or videotape any government buildings, airports, or bridges. Individuals may be questioned, detained, or arrested when near these sensitive sites without evidence of permission from the Nigerian government, or for carrying electronic equipment such as cameras, recorders, etc.

A loose alliance of militant groups has conducted a number of attacks against oil installations and posts of the Nigerian military’s Joint Task Force (JTF), which has attempted to close the militant camps. In June 2009, the Federal Government of Nigeria offered unconditional amnesty to any militant willing to surrender his/her arms and accept the government’s amnesty program. While almost all major militant leaders accepted the offer and the amnesty remains in effect, the potential for violence and the risk of kidnapping remains high and violent incidents involving “ex-militants” continue.

Periodically, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria restricts travel by U.S. officials and Mission personnel to certain parts of Nigeria based on changing security conditions, often due to terrorist attacks, crime, general strikes, security threats, student and political demonstrations, or inter-religious communal violence. Jos, the capital of Plateau State, and its environs have seen several outbreaks of violence in the past two years. The potential for future flare-ups remains. Nigeria held national elections April 2011. Although the elections themselves remained largely peaceful, violence temporarily erupted in many northern states after the announcement of results in the presidential race.

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CRIME: Violent crimes committed by individual criminals and gangs, as well as by some persons wearing police and military uniforms, occur throughout the country, especially at night. Visitors and residents have experienced armed muggings, assaults, burglaries, carjackings, rapes, kidnappings, and extortions, often involving violence. Home invasions remain a serious threat, with armed robbers accessing even guarded compounds by scaling perimeter walls; following or tailgating residents or visitors arriving by car into a compound; or subduing guards to gain entry into homes or apartments. Armed robbers in Lagos also access waterfront compounds by boat. U.S. citizens, as well as Nigerians and other expatriates, have become victims of armed robbery at banks, grocery stores, and on airport roads during both daylight and evening hours. Law enforcement authorities usually respond slowly or not at all, and provide little or no investigative support to victims. U.S. citizens, other expatriates, and Nigerians have experienced harassment and shakedowns at checkpoints and during encounters with Nigerian law enforcement officials. Traveling outside of major cities after dark is not recommended due to crime and road safety concerns. Piracy continues off the coast of Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea, with armed gangs boarding commercial and private vessels to rob travelers. The Nigerian Navy has limited capacity to respond to criminal acts at sea.

Nigerian-operated fraud schemes, known as "419" scams, are noted for their cleverness and ingenuity. These scams target foreigners worldwide, posing risks of financial loss and personal danger to their victims. Scams are often initiated through internet postings or from internet cafes by unsolicited emails, faxes, and letters, or can involve credit card use. As anywhere else, no one should provide personal or financial information to unknown parties or via Nigerian telephone lines. The expansion of bilateral law enforcement cooperation has resulted in numerous raids on commercial fraud premises and the limited return of some assets to fraud victims. New types of even more sophisticated scams seem to appear almost daily.

U.S. citizens frequently become victims of Nigerian confidence artists offering companionship through internet dating web sites and social networks. These confidence artists almost always pose as U.S. citizens visiting or living in Nigeria who unexpectedly experience a medical, legal, financial, or other type of “emergency” requiring immediate financial assistance. We strongly urge you to be very cautious about sending money to any unknown person or traveling to Nigeria to meet someone with whom your sole communications have occurred via the internet and telephone. Other common scams involve a promise of an inheritance windfall, work contracts in Nigeria, or an overpayment for goods purchased on-line. For additional information on these types of scams, see the Department of State's publication, International Financial Scams.

Commercial scams that target foreigners, including many U.S. citizens, are common. You should remain alert regarding scams that may involve you in illegal activity that could result in arrest, extortion, or bodily harm. These scams generally involve phony offers of money transfers, lucrative sales, contracts with promises of large commissions or up-front payments. They may improperly invoke the authority of one or more ministries or offices of the Nigerian government and may cite, by name, the involvement of a Nigerian government or a U.S. Embassy official. In some scams, criminals use government stationery and seals to advance the scam. The ability of U.S. consular officers to extricate U.S. citizens from unlawful business deals or scams and their subsequent consequences is extremely limited. U.S. citizens have been arrested by police officials and held for varying periods on charges of involvement in illegal business activity or scams. Nigerian police or other law enforcement officials do not always inform the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General immediately of the arrest or detention of U.S. citizens.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has published advisories for the U.S. business community on a variety of issues that should be seriously reviewed with respect to doing business in Nigeria. To check on a business’ legitimacy within the United States, contact the Nigeria Desk Officer at the International Trade Administration, Room 3317, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230, telephone: 1-800-USA-TRADE or (202) 482-5149, fax: (202) 482-5198. If you are abroad, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. You will find these products being sold on the streets, in local shops, and in market places. Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law. In addition, carrying them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.

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VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. We can:

  • Replace a stolen passport.
  • Help you find appropriate medical care if you are the victim of violent crimes such as assault or rape.
  • Put you in contact with the appropriate police authorities and, if you want us to, we can contact family members or friends.
  • Help you understand the local criminal justice process and direct you to local attorneys, although it is important to remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Nigeria is 199, which connects the caller to emergency medical and police response services.

Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.

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CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Nigeria, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own and criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Nigeria, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you are.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

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SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

PHOTOGRAPHY: Permission is required to videotape or take photographs of any government buildings, airports, bridges, and throughout the country in areas where the military is operating. These sites include, but are not limited to, federal buildings in the Three Arms Zone of Abuja (Presidential Palace area, National Assembly, Supreme Court/Judiciary), other government buildings, and foreign embassies and consulates. Many restricted sites are not clearly marked, and these restrictions are subject to interpretation by the Nigerian security services. Violations can result in detention. In the past, U.S. citizens, including U.S. government officials, have been detained by Nigerian authorities for several hours for taking photos in Abuja around these sites. Permission may be obtained from Nigeria's State Security Services, but even permission may not prevent the imposition of penalties or detention by other security officials. Penalties for unauthorized photography or videography may include confiscation of the still or video camera, exposure of the film or deletion of digital footage, a demand for payment of a fine or bribe, and/or detention, arrest, or physical assault. For these reasons, visitors to Nigeria should avoid taking still photos or videotaping in and around areas that are potentially restricted sites, including all government sites.

CURRENCY: The Nigerian currency, the naira, is non-convertible. While U.S. dollars may easily be exchanged at major hotels, banks, and foreign exchange offices, visitors should expect to pay most bills using the local currency. Nigeria is mainly a cash economy, and it is usually necessary to carry sufficient currency to cover the expenses of a planned visit, which makes travelers an attractive target for criminals. Credit cards are rarely accepted at businesses, except for a few upscale hotels. Due to credit card fraud in Nigeria and by cohorts in the United States, credit card use should be considered carefully. While Citibank cashes some traveler’s checks, most other banks do not. American Express does not have offices in Nigeria; however, Thomas Cook does. Inter-bank transfers are often difficult to accomplish, though money transfer services such as Western Union and MoneyGram are available, but only for transfers from abroad to Nigeria. For further information, visitors may contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Nigeria, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility to be limited and accommodations very different from what you find in the United States.

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MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Nigeria has a number of well-trained doctors, yet medical facilities in Nigeria are in poor condition, with inadequately trained nursing staff. Diagnostic and treatment equipment is often poorly maintained, and many medicines are unavailable. Caution should be taken when purchasing medicines locally as counterfeit pharmaceuticals are a common problem and may be difficult to distinguish from genuine medications. This is particularly true of generic medicines purchased at local pharmacies or in street markets. Hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease. Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the type that predominates in Nigeria, is resistant to the anti-malarial drug chloroquine. Because travelers to Nigeria are at high risk for contracting malaria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that travelers take one of the following anti-malarial drugs: mefloquine (Lariam™),  doxycycline, or atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone™). If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area, and up to one year after returning home, you should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician your travel history and what anti-malarials you have been taking. The CDC provides additional information on malaria protective measures.  

HIV/AIDS is a potentially fatal virus that is the leading cause of death in Nigeria. Ensure that you take appropriate precautions to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDs. It is important to note that casual contact does not transmit the virus.

You can find detail information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

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MEDICAL INSURANCE: You can’t assume your insurance will go with you when you travel. It’s very important to find out BEFORE you leave whether or not your medical insurance will cover you overseas. You need to ask your insurance company two questions:

  • Does my policy apply when I’m out of the United States?
  • Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or a medical evacuation?

In many places, doctors and hospitals expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. Medicare does not pay for any medical care received outside of the United States or its territories. If your policy doesn’t cover you when you travel, it is a good idea to take out another policy for your trip. For more information, please see our medical insurance overseas page.

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TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Roads in many areas of Nigeria are generally in poor condition, causing damage to vehicles and contributing to hazardous traffic conditions. There are few working traffic lights or stop signs, and few traffic control officers to manage the flow of traffic during power outages. Additionally, some traffic control officers may occasionally seek bribes when citing drivers for traffic violations. The rainy season, generally from May to October, is especially dangerous because of flooded roads and water-concealed potholes.

Excessive speed, unpredictable driving habits, lack of basic maintenance and safety equipment on many vehicles, and the absence of any official vehicle inspection for roadworthiness present additional hazards. Motorists seldom yield the right-of-way and give little consideration to pedestrians and cyclists. Accidents on inter-city highways with high casualties are common. Gridlock is common in urban areas. Chronic fuel shortages have led to long lines at service stations, which disrupt or block traffic for extended periods.

Public transportation vehicles, such as buses and motorbikes, are unsafe due to poor maintenance, high speeds, and overcrowding. Motorbike taxis, known in Nigeria as "okadas," offer a common form of public transportation in many cities and pose serious danger to other motorists, their own passengers, and pedestrians. Motorbike drivers frequently weave in and out of traffic at high speeds and observe no traffic rules. Motorbikes are banned within Abuja's city limits and throughout Lagos after 10 p.m. Okada drivers and passengers are required to wear helmets in a number of cities in the country; police can fine violators on the spot. Passengers in local taxis have been driven to secluded locations where they were attacked and robbed. Several of the victims required hospitalization. The U.S. Mission recommends avoiding public transportation throughout Nigeria.

Short-term visitors should not drive in Nigeria. A Nigerian driver's license can take months to obtain, and international driving permits are not recognized. Major hotels and the customer service centers at the airports in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano offer reliable car-hire services complete with drivers. Inter-city roadside assistance is extremely scarce, and medical facilities and emergency care are poor. A traffic incident might result in a lack of available medical facilities to treat either minor or life-threatening injuries.

All drivers and passengers should wear seat belts, lock doors, and keep windows closed. It is important to secure appropriate automobile insurance. Drivers and passengers of vehicles involved in accidents resulting in injury or death have experienced extra-judicial actions, i.e., mob attacks, official consequences such as fines and incarceration, and/or confrontations with the victim's family. Driving between 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. should be done with extreme caution, as bandits and police roadblocks are more numerous at night. Automobiles, trucks, or "okadas" often drive on the wrong side of the road or on sidewalks. These vehicles are difficult to see at night because streets are very poorly lit, and many vehicles are missing one or both headlights, tail lights, and reflectors.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.

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AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: In August 2010, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced its assessment that Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority is now compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Nigeria’s air carrier operations ("category one" status). The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has begun the process of certifying Nigeria's airlines to ICAO standards. Please refer to the FAA’s safety assessment page for additional information.

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CHILDREN’S ISSUES: Please see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on inter-country adoption and international parental child abduction.

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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Nigeria dated January 12, 2012, to update the section on Threats to Safety and Security.

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