Flights
Direct connections from Europe, the Gulf and across Africa to Lagos and Abuja, six to seven hours from Europe. Lagos is the commercial capital and the busier gateway; Abuja is the political capital, newer, calmer and higher. Domestic flights link the main cities and are the sensible choice over long road journeys.
Getting around
Lagos traffic is legendary and not exaggerated: a fifteen-kilometre crossing can take two hours or more, and the ferry across the lagoon is often faster than the bridge. Ride-hailing apps work well in the main cities. For intercity travel, fly where you can; road travel between regions requires current local advice on the specific route, and night driving is to be avoided.
When to come
The south has a long rainy season from April to July and a shorter one in September and October; the driest, most comfortable months are November to February. The harmattan in December and January brings a fine Saharan dust that hazes the sky and occasionally disrupts flights. The north is drier and hotter, with a single rainy season from June to September.
Money
The naira has been volatile and the official and parallel exchange rates have diverged widely at times — check the current situation before changing money, and change through formal channels. Cards work in hotels and modern retail in the main cities; cash and mobile transfers dominate elsewhere.
Orders of magnitude
| Return flight from Europe | €550 to €1,100 |
|---|---|
| Mid-range hotel night in Lagos | $80 to $200 — Lagos is expensive |
| Local restaurant meal | $5 to $20 |
| Domestic flight | $80 to $200 |
What holds everywhere
- Insurance covering medical costs and repatriation stops being optional as soon as local healthcare is limited. Check it actually covers the destination: many policies exclude areas under adverse travel advice.
- Carry cash. In much of the world cards work in the big cities and nowhere else. Check the ATM situation and your bank's charges before leaving.
- Leave margin on connections. A tight transfer on a thinly served route is expensive: the next flight may be tomorrow, or in three days.
- The real budget runs over two years, not one trip: repeated flights, paperwork, translations, legalisations, any support sent. It is always underestimated.