Nope.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Nigeria
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Nope.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Advance fee fraud
Be wary of emails or business deals that sound too good to be true, specifically those soliciting your help. Do not engage with these requests.
Police extortion
Police officers routinely target, harass, and intimidate people to extort bribes. Do not argue or fight with officers, even if you are innocent.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Sharia law in the northeast
The Boko Haram group enforces a harsh interpretation of sharia law in the far north eastern regions, which includes the punishment of flogging.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Global Polio
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Chikungunya, Cholera, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Meningococcal disease, Polio, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Visitors to Nigeria require a visa unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
Passport validity required: 6 months beyond entry.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Nigeria. The primary terrorist threat in Nigeria comes from Islamic State West Africa ( ISWA ) and Boko Haram. These groups are mainly based in north-east Nigeria in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. Since 2021, there have also been attacks likely associated with terrorist groups in the following states: Borno, Gombe, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi, Bauchi, Ondo, Zamfara, Taraba, Jigawa, Sokoto, Edo and Kano states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory. Attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur at any time, including in places visited by foreign nationals, such as: places of worship markets malls hotels bars and restaurants sports venues and screenings displacement camps train networks and stations government buildings educational institution international organisations large public gatherings military locations and venues within them Take particular care during election periods, or periods of religious significance or other public holidays. Terrorist groups have also constructed unauthorised vehicle checkpoints on major supply and commercial routes, such as the A3 Maiduguri-Damaturu Road. A heavy security presence is often a sign of a particularly high risk. Avoid affected areas in the immediate aftermath of an attack. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities. Recent significant attacks include: in June 2023, ISWA carried out an IED attack in Nas
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Nigeria with penalties of up to 14 years in prison. Some northern states observe Sharia Law which can prescribe the death penalty for same-sex sexual activity. The ‘Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act’ provides for lengthy prison sentences for anyone involved in same-sex marriages, including those who help arrange, carry out or even attend events perceived to be same-sex weddings. The Act also criminalises anyone who helps register, organise or participate in gay groups, organisations, or those who publicly promote same-sex relationships. Same-sex relationships are generally viewed as socially unacceptable in Nigerian society. There is an increased risk of violence, attacks and threats, such as blackmail and intimidation against anyone being thought to be part of the LGBT+ community or supporting their rights. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →Right now
In the news the last few days
- Military Moves to Choke Logistics , Financial Lifelines Sustaining Asymmetric Warfare – THISDAYLIVE2026-09-06
- APM tackles defence minister over claim on insecurity , says terrorism not defeated2026-09-05
- CDS Attributes Recent Operational Gains Against Terrorists to Sustained Collaboration with Police , Other Security Agencies – THISDAYLIVE2026-09-05
- International Criminal Court Rejects Request to Probe Jihadist Kidnappings in Nigeria2026-09-05
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers report conflicting information regarding safety in Nigeria, with online sources ranging from warnings of extreme danger, including kidnapping and terrorism in Lagos, to advice that standard safety precautions suffice. Discussions highlight concerns about regional instability and the specific targeting of religious sites. While some travelers express apprehension about solo movement, particularly for women, others emphasize that corruption and common scams exist as they do elsewhere. There is no consensus on the feasibility of independent exploration, such as walking alone in cities or visiting beaches, leaving prospective visitors to weigh the desire for a unique travel experience against the reality of reported unrest and security risks.
“Some webpages says that it is insanely dangerous to travel to, especially Lagos with an insanely high risk of terror and kidnapping, and other webpages says that it is fine, and to just take the same safety measures as in a lot of other countries.
— r/travel
“I’m particularly worried because it looks like churches are a big target and as a guest of the archbishop, I would inevitably be inside churches and church property for a majority of the time.
— r/travel
“I know there has been unrest in different parts of the country over the years, issues with corruption, scams(as with everywhere), etc but realistically, how concerned should I be?
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
D / G · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 112 / ambulance: 112 / fire: 112
Cash vs. Card
Nigeria's currency is naira (symbol: ₦, ISO 4217 code: NGN). Banknotes circulate in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000. Between 2023 and 2024, high inflation caused the naira to lose three quarters of its value against other currencies.
Zoom in
One Nigeria city on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (8 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09