Nigeria

The very thing that makes Nigeria so ornery and difficult to unite into a single peaceful republic is also its attraction. There are over 250 different peoples, languages, histories, and religions all rubbing shoulder to shoulder in this hectic, colourful and often volatile republic.

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Nigeria is bigger than Texas and temperatures are hot country-wide year-round, peaking at about 35°C (95°F) in the spring; the humidity is also constant. Late spring to summer is the hottest part of the year in the north, sometimes topping out at an extreme 45°C (113°F). The mercury drops from October to January at the onset of the dusty harmattan winds. In the north the wet season lasts from May til October, while on the coast and inland there are a couple of wet seasons: a long one from around March to July and a brief reprise during September and October.

Transport

Getting around

Air travel within Nigeria can be chaotic, mainly because scheduled flights can get cancelled at short notice, leaving the next flight over-booked. The good news is that internal flights are incredibly cheap. Domestic flights leave from the domestic terminal of Murtala Mohammed airport.

Travelling by bus is a safe and comfortable way to travel and lines connect all the main cities. Bus offices tend to cluster in the same area of the city. Bush taxis are the fastest and most comfortable way to get around but they're also the most dangerous. Nigerian drivers have little respect for speed limits and accidents are often fatal. There are trains running in Nigeria but they're not very comfortable and, as if to compensate for the bush taxis, travel at a snail's pace.

Getting there and away

Lagos International airport (Murtala Mohammed) is 22km (13mi) from Lagos. Taxis to the city are also available. International carriers fly in and out of Lagos but due to regular fuel shortages, scheduled flights may sometimes be cancelled. The departure tax for international flights is 35.00.

There may be passenger speedboats from Oron, south of Calabar, to Idenao, a small place 50km (31mi) northwest of Limbe (Cameroon), but these are often suspended due to clashes on the Bakassi Peninsula. Check the security situation before making any plans, and avoid the temptation to take one of the frequent cargo boats - these are almost all smugglers' vessels. Share taxis can take you by road to Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Most border crossings involve dash handed over to customs officials in a pleasant manner.

Health & Legal Requirements

Visas overview

All visitors are required to have a visa except for citizens of countries belonging to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).