Nigeria travel guide

With over 200 million inhabitants, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, with around one sixth of the continent’s population, and its largest economy. Its culture is dominated by arts, storytelling and fable. Consider Nigeria’s many celebrated writers, poets and musicians, including the first African Nobel Laureate in Literature – plus, it’s the home of the Benin Bronzes, stolen by British forces and at the front of campaigns to repatriate African art to their rightful homes.

Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.

– Things Fall Apart, by Nigerian novelist and poet Chinua Achebe

Our Nigeria travel guide takes into account the complex history – colonialism, independence, a brutal civil war and a landscape scarred by oil, and the greed of those who control it. But only by looking beyond these, by reading stories written by Nigerians themselves, by visiting the country and meeting its citizens, can we really start to understand Nigeria.

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Nigeria is...

also known as Naija – a word which represents Nigeria’s optimistic new beginning, as it moves on from its former image.

Nigeria isn't...

homogenous. There are over 500 ethnicities and languages here, the main three being Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa.

Things to do in Nigeria…

Visit both urban and rural communities. Chaotic Lagos is perhaps what springs to mind when you think of the country, and a city tour is a fascinating way to start your adventure with the artefact-packed National Museum, the pretty architecture of the Afro-Brazilian quarter and a tour of Lagos Island. But spend time in rural villages, too, to discover a part of Nigeria little changed over the years. Meet traders on their way to weekly markets, community leaders, and sleep beneath the African stars. Discover a long history. Climb sacred rocks to see Yoruba shrines; visit the abandoned village in the Adanre Hills, and explore the UNESCO-rated city of Oshogbo, packed with carved Yoruba deities. And don’t miss the Royal Palace in Benin City, another UNESCO site dating back to the 13th century. Tourism is – very slowly – growing in Nigeria, but it remains a tough place to travel thanks to its vast size, limited public transport and safety concerns in some regions. Many communities speak local languages, of which there are over 500. For this reason, we recommend joining a small group tour. You’ll travel in a private vehicle, with a tour leader throughout and local guides joining you at points of interest. This reduces the chances of incidents – and ensures that if anything does happen, there is help at hand.

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Things not to do in Nigeria…

Base all your perceptions on headlines. Nigeria has a long, complex and fascinating history, and has produced authors, poets, Nobel prizewinners and musicians. Read Achebe’s Things Fall Apart for insights into Igbo village life, Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun to learn about the human costs of the Biafra War, and watch Finding Fela! for a portrait of the hugely influential musician, human rights activist and speaker, Fela Kuti. We always encourage our travellers to immerse themselves in local culture where possible – but we make exceptions to this when this involves endangered species and poaching. Some souvenirs may be made of feathers, bone or tropical hardwoods. Bushmeat is widely available in Nigeria, and often involves creatures which have been illegally hunted. Some parts of western Nigeria also adhere to Voodoo, with its associated fetish markets. These involve parts of animals such as gorillas, chimps and pangolins; as a tourist, please don’t fuel the trade that is threatening so many species with extinction. Visit the northeast. The threat of terrorist attacks and kidnappings is very real here, and the FCO advises against all travel. Expect luxury outside of the cities. Nigeria is not a tourist destination – that is part of its appeal. Accommodation will be clean and comfortable, with local staff.

Nigeria travel guide