Nigeria for Black Travelers: Visa, Yellow Fever, Safety Numbers and Ride Apps (2026)
Updated: 5 days ago
Lagos and Abuja draw a big diaspora crowd, for family, business and the music. Nigeria also has the highest US advisory level of the countries we cover, so plan carefully. Checked 6 October 2026.
Entry for US passport holders
You need a visa before you travel. Apply on Nigeria's official e-visa portal, evisa.immigration.gov.ng. The tourist visa is single entry, valid 90 days from issue, for a stay of up to 30 days. Check the current fee on the portal.
Passport valid 6 months beyond arrival, with a blank page for each stamp.
Yellow fever and polio vaccination: both required.
Numbers to save
Police and ambulance: 112
Road accidents: 119
US Embassy Abuja: +234 209 461 4328 (after hours: +234 209 461 4000)
US Consulate General Lagos: +234 201 460 3400
Getting around
Ride apps: Uber and Bolt run in Lagos and Abuja. The State Department says ride-share apps are generally safer than traditional taxis.
Robbers posing as unlicensed taxis ("one-chance") are a known risk. Use an app or a taxi your hotel recommends, and avoid buses and motorbikes.
Don't drive between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Know before you go
The US advisory for Nigeria is Level 3, Reconsider Travel (June 2026). Lagos and Abuja are not on the Do Not Travel list, but many states are, including Borno, Kaduna and Kano in the north and Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo and Rivers (outside Port Harcourt) in the south.
Kidnapping for ransom is common, and the State Department says it often targets dual nationals and Americans seen as wealthy. Keep travel plans private.
Romance, "419" and fake job-offer scams are common.
Same-sex relations are illegal in Nigeria, with up to 14 years in prison.
Before you go
Enroll in the State Department's STEP program at mytravel.state.gov/s/step so the embassy can reach you in an emergency. For more African countries in one download, get the Black Travel Guide: Africa Edition on blacktravel.org.
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