Reality Brief: Lagos

Current alerts

• Large parts of the country advised against

  North-east, north-west, Niger Delta and Cameroonian border strongly advised against; Middle Belt, south-east and part of the south-west advised against except for essential travel (kidnapping).

  Published on July 10, 2026 · France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, safety, GOV.UK (FCDO), Nigeria travel advice: warnings and insurance

Alerts checked on October 2, 2026 against the sources cited.

Essentials before you arrive

• A tourist or business visa is compulsory and must be obtained before travel: visas on arrival no longer exist. Apply on the Nigerian Immigration Service portal; French applicants then submit the file at the OIS centre, 7 rue Daru in Paris. Holders of a valid Nigerian residence permit (CERPAC, Green Card) do not need a visa.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Nigeria travel advice: entry requirementsGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: NigeriaGuide: Entry and residence

• Since May 2025, electronic arrival and departure cards must be completed online (lecard.immigration.gov.ng) before check-in.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Nigeria travel advice: entry requirementsGuide: Entry and residence

• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, entry and residenceGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: NigeriaGuide: Entry and residence

• A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required (except infants aged 8 months or under and adults aged 61 or over, according to the UK).

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Nigeria travel advice: entry requirementsCDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Travelers' Health: NigeriaGuide: Entry and residence

• Malaria is present throughout the country. See a doctor before departure about prevention and vaccines; any fever requires prompt medical attention.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, healthCDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Travelers' Health: NigeriaGuide: Health

• Emergency number: 112 (ambulance, fire, police); Canada also lists 199. There is no national ambulance service.

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Nigeria travel advice: getting helpGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: NigeriaGuide: Health

• The currency is the naira (NGN). The economy is cash-based and US dollars are widely accepted; ATMs are scarce outside major cities.

  Government of Canada, Travel advice: NigeriaGuide: Money and banking

• Serious crime is everywhere and kidnappings for ransom are frequent nationwide. Be met at the airport by people you know: kidnappings at airports have occurred. Do not walk, vary your routes, avoid going out at night and do not use screens in the car at night or in traffic jams.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

Living in Lagos

• In Lagos, be extra careful on the mainland, especially on the airport road; Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Banana Island are safer.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Serious crime is everywhere and kidnappings for ransom are frequent nationwide. Be met at the airport by people you know: kidnappings at airports have occurred. Do not walk, vary your routes, avoid going out at night and do not use screens in the car at night or in traffic jams.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Avoid gatherings, markets, accident scenes and places of worship on sensitive dates; respect curfews and checkpoints.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Scams of all kinds are common; avoid using bank cards because of the high risk of fraud.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, useful informationGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: NigeriaGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Domestic flights work fairly well. The rail network is run-down, except the new Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna lines, where attacks cannot be ruled out.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, useful informationGuide: Getting around

Field experience

• Tip

  Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): pharmacies (17), clinics (17), hospitals (256). Locate those near your home in the first days and check opening hours and on-call services locally.

• Tip

  Where to shop for food

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): markets (24), supermarkets (21). Compare a few basic prices between market and supermarket before settling into habits.

• Tip

  Banks, cash machines and exchange

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): banks (128), cash machines (6), currency exchange (2). Withdraw and change money at these official places, preferably during the day, never in the street.

• Tip

  A shop for your SIM card

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): phone and internet (9). Go with your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.

• Tip

  A furnished flat for the first weeks

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): furnished apartments (4). A furnished flat gives you time to visit several neighbourhoods before signing a lease.

• Tip

  A coworking space as a fallback

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): coworking (3). Useful for remote work when the connection or power fails at home.

• Tip

  Consulates in the city

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): consulates (21). Note the address of your country's consulate or the nearest embassy.

• Emergency number

  112 for ambulance, fire and police; 199 according to Canada.

  112199

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Nigeria travel advice: getting helpGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Nigeria· Oct 2, 2026

• Consulate General of France in Lagos

  Passport: France

  Consular services for French nationals; register your arrival.

  1 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos 106104

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, entry and residenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Nigeria, safety· Oct 2, 2026