Local Laws

Criminal Penalties:  You are subject to local laws.  If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.  Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law.  For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately.  See our webpage for further information.

Special Circumstances:  The local currency, the Naira, is non-convertible.  Obtaining U.S. dollars is increasingly difficult.  Visitors should expect to pay most bills in cash.  This makes travelers an attractive target for criminals.

While credit cards may be accepted at established businesses in major cities, they are rarely accepted elsewhere.  Virtually all credit card readers in Nigeria require embedded “smart” chips. Credit card use should be considered carefully.

Most banks do not cash traveler’s checks.  Inter-bank transfers are often difficult to accomplish. Though money transfer services are availabe, money may only be transferred from abroad to Nigeria.

Scams: Nigerian fraud schemes target foreigners worldwide.  Scams are often initiated through Internet postings or by unsolicited emails, and letters.  Scammers almost always pose as U.S. citizens in Nigeria who unexpectedly experience a medical, legal, financial, or other type of “emergency” requiring immediate financial assistance.  For additional information on these types of scams, see the Department of State's publication, International Financial Scams.  Commercial scams are also common and involve phony offers of money transfers, lucrative sales, contracts with promises of large commissions, or up-front payments.

Photography: It is illegal to take photos or videos in/around

• all government buildings
• airports
• bridges
• near military installations/operations

Many restricted sites are not clearly marked, and these restrictions are subject to interpretation by the Nigerian security services.  Violations can result in detention.

Faith-Based Travelers:  See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report.

LGBTI Travelers:  Consensual, same-sex sexual relations are illegal in Nigeria.  Entering same-sex marriage contracts and civil unions (defined to include “any arrangement between persons of the same sex to live together as sex partners”) is also criminalized, with punishments including fines and prison sentences of up to 14 years.  Same-sex marriage contracts and civil unions entered into in a foreign country are not recognized under Nigerian law.

Public displays of affection between persons of the same sex are also punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.  Furthermore, the law allows for the prosecution of persons who support or belong to advocacy groups relating to LGBT issues, with prison sentences of up to 10 years.  U.S. citizens who participate in free speech or assemblies relating to same sex marriage could potentially be prosecuted under this new law.

In the following northern states, where Sharia law applies, penalties can also include death:  Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.  For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Nigeria, you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.  See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance:  Persons with disabilities can expect to experience difficultly in terms of accessibility and accommodation.

Students:  See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.

Women Travelers:  If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.