Is it safe to visit Nigeria?

 
 
 

With lofty hills, flowing rivers, and waterfalls, Nigeria is packed with exciting and picturesque places to visit. Not to mention the amazing foods that Nigerians can boast of day in and day out, with unique flavors that can only be found in Africa. With this, anyone would like to visit and experience Nigeria, but the big question is: Is it safe to visit Nigeria?

Nigeria, like every other country, has its pros and cons, and lately, due to several reasons, Nigeria has been in the news and tagged as “Unsafe to travel to”. Similar to every other country, Nigeria indeed has “hotspots” that should be avoided, but in its entirety, Nigeria is safe to travel to even as a foreigner, but here are some tips that will help you feel safer.

Safety tips for traveling to Nigeria

  • Learn how to use your phone or other smart devices to share your location with your friends and family while you are abroad.  

  • Avoid crowds and isolated locations especially if you're alone.

  • Be alert if you feel uncomfortable wherever you are.

  • Use cab hailing services that you are familiar with, and share the driver’s details with your loved ones. 

  • Carry proper identification, including a U.S. passport with a current Nigerian visa, if needed.

Nigerian COVID-19 Travel Information ( According to NCDC) 

  • All passengers planning to take a trip to Nigeria from any country MUST register via the online Nigeria International Travel Portal (nitp.ncdc.gov.ng)

  • Passengers that are fully vaccinated arriving in Nigeria will not be required to carry out a pre-boarding COVID-19 PCR test nor carry out a Post-arrival PCR test or Rapid Antigen Test upon arrival in Nigeria

  • Passengers fully vaccinated must show a verifiable full vaccination certificate otherwise, they will be treated as unvaccinated/partially vaccinated under this protocol

  • Passengers that are unvaccinated and partially vaccinated are required to take a COVID-19 PCR test 48hrs before departure and conduct days 2 and 7 post-arrival PCR tests. Such passengers will be expected to pay for their PCR tests through the NITP

  • Children below the age of 18 years will be accorded the same privileges as persons who are fully vaccinated.

  • Passengers who do not adhere to the travel protocol will face the penalty as stipulated by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19

Ekab Takon