Moving to Nigeria

Nigerian immigration is structured around the employer-led Expatriate Quota system: companies must secure quota slots from the Ministry of Interior before they can sponsor foreign workers, and nearly every long-term route runs through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). Most expatriates arrive on a Subject to Regularisation (STR) visa and convert in-country to a CERPAC residence card within 90 days, while ECOWAS nationals enjoy visa-free movement under regional treaty.

Nigeria's economy is dominated by oil and gas, financial services, telecommunications, consumer goods, agriculture, and an increasingly globally relevant technology sector. Lagos is the financial and tech capital, hosting major banks (GTBank, Zenith, Access), fintechs (Flutterwave, Paystack, Kuda, Moniepoint), telecoms (MTN, Airtel, Glo), and the West African HQs of many multinationals. Abuja is dominated by government, diplomacy, and oil-services companies. The job market for expatriates is gated by the Expatriate Quota system: each company must secure quota slots from the Ministry of Interior to hire foreign nationals, and these slots are meant to be limited to roles where local skills are genuinely scarce.

Nigeria's healthcare system is deeply two-tiered. Public hospitals are overstretched and under-resourced; most expats and middle-class Nigerians rely on private facilities. In Lagos, Reddington Hospital, Lagoon Hospital, Evercare Hospital (Lekki), and First Cardiology Consultants offer strong general and specialist care. In Abuja, Nisa Premier, Cedarcrest, and Asokoro District Hospital are the main private options. For complex or critical care, medical evacuation to the UK, South Africa, India, or the UAE is routine; most expat medical schemes explicitly include evacuation cover. Private health insurance from HMOs like Avon, Axa Mansard, Hygeia, or Reliance HMO is standard for employed expatriates. International schemes from Bupa, Cigna, and AXA Global are common for senior packages. Pharmacies are widespread but the risk of counterfeit medication is real; stick to reputable chains like Medplus, HealthPlus, and Alpha Pharmacy. Malaria is endemic across Nigeria; most long-term residents stop prophylaxis and instead use mosquito nets, repellent, and early testing and treatment, but newcomers should speak to a travel doctor. Ensure yellow fever vaccination is current - a valid card is required at entry.

Nigeria is one of the most fintech-advanced markets in Africa. Digital banking, instant interbank transfers (via NIBSS), USSD-based banking for feature phones, and a wave of fintech apps have transformed daily payments. Internet access is predominantly mobile, delivered over 4G and expanding 5G by MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile. Fixed fibre (Spectranet, Starlink, ipNX, Tizeti) is available in major cities but often supplemented by mobile backups.

Nigerian culture is loud, expressive, deeply relational, and built on three massive ethnic pillars (Hausa-Fulani in the north, Yoruba in the southwest, Igbo in the southeast) plus hundreds of smaller groups, each with its own language, dress, music, and food. Religion is central: the south is predominantly Christian, the north predominantly Muslim, and religious identity influences naming, dress, and weekly rhythms. Hospitality is a core value; refusing food or drink in someone's home can be mildly offensive. Greetings matter enormously, particularly in Yoruba and Hausa culture, where prostrating or kneeling for elders, or a hand-to-chest greeting for senior Muslims, signals respect. Titles (Chief, Alhaji, Oga, Madam, Dr, Engr) are used frequently and should not be dropped casually once known. 'Naija no dey carry last' - Nigerians do not finish last - captures the ambitious, competitive streak that drives business and hustle culture. Owambe (weekend parties) with elaborate aso-ebi dress codes, live Afrobeats, and endless jollof rice are core social infrastructure, particularly in the southwest.

• •Greetings are non-negotiable. Walk into any room without greeting and you will be read as rude. 'Good morning sir/ma' is baseline even in relatively informal settings.
• •Titles are load-bearing. Address people as Chief, Alhaji, Dr, Engr, Madam, or Oga/Boss as appropriate. Getting this wrong is worse than being too formal.
• •Pidgin English is the continent's great equaliser. Picking up a few phrases ('How far?', 'No wahala', 'Abeg') earns enormous goodwill.
• •Jollof rice is a matter of national pride, with friendly (and not-so-friendly) rivalry against Ghana, Senegal, and Cameroon. Have an opinion.
• •Nollywood, Afrobeats (Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Tems), and Nigerian literature (Adichie, Soyinka, Achebe) are global cultural exports. Familiarity with them signals that you respect Nigerian identity, not just its economy.