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As you arrive at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, you’ll be greeted by the warmth and vibrancy of Nigerian people. Lively chatter and resounding conversations follows you from the arrival hall — This display of enthusiasm captures Nigeria’s essence; a joyful spirit animates her people.

However, before meeting the experience awaiting beyond the airport, it’s important we let you know the entry procedures. 

Citizens of ECOWAS nations enjoy visa-free entry to Nigeria, while those from other countries need to obtain visas in advance or apply for e-visas to receive upon arrival for tourist purposes.

Navigating the airport is straightforward,from the tarmac to immigration offices is a direct walk along a straight walkway. If you’re getting a visa on arrival,  find the Visa On Arrival lounge prominently marked at the immigration area. Once you’re done with the stamping, which shouldn’t take long depending on the number of flights on ground at your time of arrival and the number of people ahead of you. Walk through to the luggage pickup area which is just behind the immigration officers, retrieve your luggage and continue to the exit. Please note that you may be intercepted by customs officers for bag check.

Note: Tipping immigration officers and airport workers isn’t official in Nigeria, but when you hear words like “find me something,”  “anything for the boys,” or “show your boy love,”  it’s simply a call for a tip, this is optional, you can nicely decline and say you don’t have any cash on you, but if your spirit also feels like tipping go ahead.

Once you step outside the airport, you’ll be greeted by eager taximen offering to transport you to your destination. 

Transportation From The Airport:

There are airport taxis and car hires, operated by companies, and independent taxis. While the airport taxis adhere to fixed rates, the independent ones offer negotiable fares. As a local, I’d say they’re generally safe, but for an extra layer of security, you should consider using Uber. With Uber, you can track your location in real time. If you opt for Uber, ensure you set your pickup location to the right terminal to avoid a long walk to the car park. 

Making Payments

Upon arrival at the airport, you can exchange your foreign currency (dollars, pounds, or euros) into Naira at the designated Bureau de Change within the terminal building, you’ll find them along the hallway before stepping out of the terminal building to the Taxi area.  With this local currency, you can easily pay for various expenses, including transportation, accommodations, meals, and purchases at local markets and streets.

Alternatively, you can use your international debit or credit card at most establishments. However, it’s always a good idea to have some cash on hand for smaller transactions like transportations or at places that may not accept card payments.