Nigeria Travel Information: All You Need To Know
Air Travel
Nigeria is the hub for the West Africa sub-region. Murtala Mohammed International airport is the busiest airport in Nigeria, and most international flights come in through Murtala Mohammed. Other International airports include Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, Aminu Kano International Airpor Kano and Port Harcourt International Airport.
Most major international airlines fly into Nigeria, including British Airway, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, KLM, Etihad, Air France, Emirates, Qatar Air, Turkish Airlines, South African Airlines, Kenya Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines etc.
You can come into Nigeria by air through Ikeja, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Abuja-the gateways by air. There are other international airports in Calabar, Enugu, Maiduguri and Sokoto which operate chartered flights to some international destinations
Or by sea, through the ports of Lagos (Apapa and Tin Can), Port Harcourt, Koko, Burutu, Warri, and Calabar.
By road, you can come into Nigeria through several authorized border posts from Benin Republic, Niger Republic, and the Republic of Cameroon.
When To Visit Nigeria
Be it for conferences, business, sports, and other reasons, you can visit Nigeria anytime. However, there are two distinct seasons-the rainy and the dry.
During the rainy season, rain may inconvenience tourist who is keen on sight-seeing, for it could rain for seven days, especially in the coastal areas without a break
To all intents, the dry season, which begins generally late in October and runs into late February or early March in the south, and April in the north, is the best time to visit Nigeria for leisure.
Entry Formalities
Passport
All visitors to Nigeria must carry a valid national passport or other internationally recognized travel documents endorsed for travel to Nigeria.
Visa
Citizens of ECOWAS states are allowed to enter Nigeria without a visa, subject to their stay not exceeding three months. Requests for multiple entry visa will be given with delay for other nationals provided they meet the requirements for entry into Nigeria.
The above entry regulations are subject to changes.
Health Regulations
Cholera and Small Pox vaccinations are required for visitors entering Nigeria. Yellow Fever vaccinations are required for arrivals from infected areas. Children under the age of one year are however exempted. No certificate of AIDS-free tests are required. Visitors from Europe and North America should take precautional steps against Malaria Fever, which are prevalent in the rainy season from May to October.
Customs
Visitors to Nigeria are allowed four litres of spirit and 200 cigarettes duty-free, personal effects such as cameras, watches, pen lighters, and cosmetics are allowed duty-free within reasonable quantity. Other goods, such as video equipment, are dutiable and visitors are expected to pay the duties on the spot. If in doubt, ask to see a senior customs officer for clearance. Illegal drugs of all descriptions are not allowed into Nigeria.
Telephone
You can roam with your mobile phone in Nigeria on most mobile networks. Confirm roaming charges from your network provider before your trip. If you plan to stay long in Nigeria, you can purchase a SIM card for one of the major Nigerian Telecoms companies – MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat from major outlets. You will need a form of ID and address in order to register your SIM to activate your line.
Medical Services
As in many countries, medical services or hospital care are borne by visitors themselves. If any travel insurance plan exists in your country of origin, please take one. Many international HMOs have offices or representatives in Nigeria, hence are able to provide health insurance cover for policyholders travelling to Nigeria. Find out from your provider before your trip if you have cover while visiting Nigeria.
Private clinics and hospitals manned by qualified practitioners exist, even in rural towns. Government-owned hospitals and teaching hospitals exist in major towns.
Electricity
The main voltage in Nigeria is 220 volts. If you bring along any electrical equipment with 110 volts, remember to bring along a converter.
Measures
Nigeria operates a metric system, through the Imperial measure is still usually referred to. Cloth is sold in meters and yards, beef in kilograms, and petrol in litres. Distance is marked in kilometres and temperature in centigrade.