Nigeria SKETCH SCORE: 32/100Nigeria moved -2 this weekNo major changes since yesterday.Nigeria SKETCH SCORE: 32/100Nigeria moved -2 this weekNo major changes since yesterday.
Nigeria

Nope.

No major changes since yesterday.

Verified Sep 9, 2026Confidence high▼ -2 this week
32Sketch Score
90-day trend

Governments, one trip

What they're telling their own citizens about Nigeria

The real score

The breakdown

44advisoryConsensus
10Political Stability
30Police Trust
20Health
54Road Safety
53Natural Disaster
2LGBTQ+

See it from your perspective

32

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

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.

Source: Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA) →

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)
Printable pre-trip checklist for Nigeria →