Lagos City

• 🌍 Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS  ^IATA). You can fly in from most European cities (Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, and Paris); from Abu Dhabi, Addis Ababa, Beirut, Cairo, Casablanca, Doha, Douala, Dubai, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Kigali, Libreville, Luanda, Malabo, Nairobi, and Sharjah. There are also direct flights from the United States (Atlanta and New York City) with Delta Airlines. There are also flights to Lagos from most major cities in West Africa. 

Lagos is close (about 100 km) to the border with Benin. Should you fly out of the International Airport in Lagos, arrive early, especially close to weekends and festive days, as the security has been beefed up significantly (you need to have your passport and ticket to enter the airport departure area) since the December 2009 liquid explosive incident where the terrorist started his journey from Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

For foreigners, the immigration process can be tedious and slow as there are two immigration officials at each desk (presumably to reduce corruption). Nigerians and the West African (ECOWAS) passport holders receive first priority. Families with young children and disabled people are normally also given priority. When filling in the arrival card for immigration you must have an address in Nigeria and a Nigerian contact number - they have been known to call this number to verify that you are expected.

After immigration you collect your bag at one of the baggage conveyors; check beside the start of the conveyor if you have fragile or oversized baggage.

If you are travelling with a multi-national corporation, you will often be met by the "Protocol Officers" in the luggage collection hall. These agents will ensure you meet with the official company drivers and get safe passage out of the airport.

After collecting your luggage you pass customs and agricultural inspections and there is a pretty good chance your bag will be searched for the usual contraband.

Then a health inspector will check your yellow fever card. This has been a soft spot for many travelers as there must be ten days between inoculation and travel and the officials denied entry to passengers (i.e. put back on the next plane out).

Finally, you must have your luggage tag from check-in as security will not allow you to leave the airport without producing this tag that corresponds to each bag.

Do not leave the airport if you have not made contact with your driver or pick-up as you are not allowed back into the airport after exiting.

Many international flights leave in the evenings and the airport becomes very congested after 5PM with long queues for check-in. Vehicular traffic in the airport is very heavy in the evenings. So plan to arrive at the airport at least 4 hours before your flight. The check-in process takes a long time if you are not in business class or priority check-in. Your baggage pre-weighed and if it is more than 23 kg per bag you will have to reduce the weight. Then you have your passport details checked by the ground crew.

Your bags are searched by agriculture, customs, and "antiquities" agents and any indigenous trinkets are likely to be confiscated; this is the bottle-neck in the check-in process.

Finally, you reach the check-in counter and receive your ticket and the departure card to be filled in for the immigration control.

At either end of the departures hall are new extensions that house immigration, security checks, and passport control. Hand in your departure card and proceed to the security checks. Since the Christmas bomber the checks are very thorough. New scanners and passport control counters have made this part of the departure process very easy (previously this could take two hours).

There are pay-access and Priority Pass lounges after passport control (after two hours in the security queue, you will want to use it if you have the time and US$50 to spare). Use Oasis or Skye Lounge, both of which are good, especially Oasis which is very nice even by 1st world standards. Gabfol lounge is free, but you pay for food and drinks.

Before boarding, there is a final passport check, yellow fever card, and boarding pass. Your hand luggage is opened and searched and you are frisked. Finally you board the plane.

Rail services in Nigeria have been slow and unreliable for decades. However Nigerian Railway Corporation has opened a new higher-speed Lagos-Ibadan Railway between Lagos and Ibadan via Abeokuta, with a significant reduction in travel time. Work is ongoing to expand the line towards Kano, but it is unclear when further sections will be opened.

The old, and much slower, colonial railway has been rehabilitated in some parts and there are a few long-distance trains running. Most useful for tourists is the overnight sleeper from Kano via Kaduna, which operates a few times per week in each direction.

• 🌍 Lagos-Ebute Metta railway station. The new central railway hub, long-distance trains from Ibadan call here. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Lagos Terminus (Lagos Iddo railway station), Murtala Muhammed Rd, Iddo (across the bridge from Lagos Island). The former, more centrally located railway station. As of 2022, only local services and long-distance trains on the older, slower routes, calls here. (updated Jan 2022)

Several bus companies like Agofure God Is Good Motors, ABC Transport, Ifesinachi and The Young Shall Grow offer daily services from almost all major cities around the country as well as international destinations in West Africa. While buses usually are quite comfortable, journey times are very long.

• 🌍 Oshodi bus terminal. The largest bus terminal for intercity buses. (updated Nov 2020)

Lagos's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines run in segregated lanes and thus run faster than private cars stuck in traffic. The buses are coloured red or blue.

The BRT is one of the three-pronged attacks the state has unleashed against the urban traffic congestion in Lagos. Buses can be an inexpensive and convenient option. Bus fares are relatively affordable and there are numerous routes being plied from the Mainland to the Islands.

The tickets for the BRT and the Lagbus can be purchased at the bus stops before boarding. Tickets range from ₦100-250 (2016). However, the ticket vendors are seldom available in the evening even though the buses ply till late at night. It makes good sense to purchase a ticket booklet or a couple of tickets in bulk beforehand since these don't contain a timestamp.

There are also smaller yellow buses (Danfo) that ply all routes from the mainland to the island and within mainland. For a newbie, the yellow bus system can be quite confusing and it makes good sense to approach a local for help. The local Nigerians will be more than happy to help an Oyinbo (white person). The fare is fixed and starts from ₦50 and increases by distance.

The BRT buses are faster, cleaner and more convenient. They carry hundreds of thousands of passengers on a weekly basis.

The road network of Lagos for the most part is good, but sometimes traffic congestion and limited parking space especially during working hours is rife. Be sure to be on the lookout for road signs, in order to avoid entering one-way roads or streets. LASTMA (Lagos State Traffic Management Agency) is the body responsible for managing traffic in most of the traffic congestion areas. Make sure to follow traffic rules, and avoid driving in the BRT Bus lanes to avoid getting a fine or having your car impounded.

There exists car parks around in hotels, shopping malls, and some of them provide free and safe parking. But if parking in other areas around the city be ready to pay around ₦200 or more.

One of the easiest ways to get around is by taxi. Taxis cost more than buses, typically. With the older taxi cabs it is expected to negotiate the price before you enter and pay on arrival. The cabs are relatively safe. The state has embarked on gradual replacement of rickety buses and taxi cabs with modern ones, fitted with good facilities to enhance comfort.

Through public-private partnerships, new cabs are being introduced regularly by licensed cab operators.

With fares as low as ₦500, depending on the distance, the new air-conditioned taxi cabs are already creating a new image for Lagos. Taxis can be found almost everywhere, and all the new cabs have numbers on them that you can call for a pick up. There are several cab companies servicing Lagos, using both metered and fixed fares,and they generally accept cash:

• Red Cab. Taxi Service, ☏ +234 802 705 2098, +234 700 073 3222, citransgloballtd@c-ileasing.com. 
• Corporate Cabs, Plot 3A, Owukori Street, Alaka Estate, Surulere, fafolahan63@gmail.com. 
• Orange Cabs. Taxi Service, 18B, Ladoke Akintola Crescent, G.R.A., Ikeja, ☏ +234 791 7202, +234 702 911 9504, +234 819 116 6926, booking@orangecabs-ng.com. 
• Uber — Retail unit no. 5. Second upper floor, Maryland Mall, 350/360 Ikorodu Road
• Taxify — 9 Professor Gabriel Olusanya St, Lekki Phase 1

Renting a car is another alternative if you are going to be staying for a few days or longer. There are numerous car rental offices in the city, and therefore it is very easy to rent a car from your hotel or resort accommodation to drive around with for the duration of your stay. Avis is your best bet for this; either call or make use of their online services:

• Avis Rent-A-Car, Avis House, 6 Degema Close, Off Park Lane, Apapa GRA, ☏ +234 803 718 7000, +234 1 764 6442, reservations@avisng.com. 
• Hertz Car Rental, 12 Keffi Street, SW Ikoyi, ☏ +234 1 2703700. 
• Unity Global Ventures Car Rental, ☏ +1 877 810 1221 (USA), +234 809 189 5630 (Nigeria), info@unityglobalventures.com. Chauffeur-driven, air-conditioned SUV car rental car hire service. ₦11,500 a day. 
• Novo Car Rentals, 2nd floor, UBA Building, Plot 22B, Idowu Taylor Street, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1 270 2047, +234 1 271 7069, +234 1 873 0193, info@novocars.com. 

Lagos Ferry Services Company runs scheduled routes between Lagos Island, Banana island, Mile 2 (Apapa axis) and the mainland. Modern ferries have been assigned to carry both passengers and cargo on the lagoon and on some creeks. The service charge is quite affordable for a tourist.

The first section of the long-awaited Lagos Rail Mass Transit opened in September 2023, connecting the Mainland to Marina on Lagos Island and cutting travel time for the 13-km journey to just 15 minutes. The fare for the trip is N375, payable only by Cowry Card.

There are ambitious expansion plans, including a line to the airport, but progress has been slow.

For travelling short distances, you can use motorbike taxis called Okada. These motorbikes are quick, cheap and save a lot of walking but they are also very dangerous. Okada accidents are very common but safety equipment are now provided because the state government and in fact the Federal Road Safety Commission has mandated it. If you want to take the risk, you can safely halve their first price, and usually there are lots to choose from. Before you try and negotiate, confirm the fare from a local. If you have a Nigerian friend, let them negotiate for you as the quoted fare differs greatly for locals and foreigners (for obvious reasons). Choose an older driver as the younger ones are cowboys.

Safety Helmets are a must at all times for both the rider and passenger. Majority of times these are ill-fitting and sometimes even absent.

By law, Okadas are forbidden to ply after dark (7PM) for safety reasons. Avoid taking an Okada for long distances, while it's raining and in the night since majority of mainland is devoid of street lights.

Okadas and kekes (tuk tuks) were banned by the government in Lagos/Victoria Islands, Ikeja, Apapa, Yaba, and certain other Mainland districts of Lagos effective Feb of 2020 for safety reasons.

There are over a dozen beaches in Lagos (Lekki, Alpha, Eleko, Akodo beaches to the east, and Tarkwa Bay, Ogogoro Island, Atlas Cove, Lighthouse beach, Ilashe Beach, Agaja Beach and Badagry beach to the west), making for a wide array to choose from. More beaches are found outside the city, in places like Badagry. Good for picnics and barbecues. Inside the city, Lekki is about as good as it gets.

LUFASI Nature Park is an urban forest park on 20 hectares of land along the Lekki-Epe Expressway. The nature park comprises of a relaxation centre for adults, a play park and a football pitch for the young ones or young adults.

• Mr Bigg's. The ubiquitous Mr Bigg's is Nigeria's version of McDonald's. While western fare such as hamburgers is served, Nigerian delicacies such as jollof rice and moin moin are more popular. Look for the big 'B' with a red and yellow colour scheme - you shouldn't have much trouble finding one in Lagos 
• Tantalizers. Another leading Nigerian fast food chain, Tantalizers serves Nigerian fast food staples such as meat pies, scotch eggs, chicken, jollof rice, fried rice, cake, and hamburgers. Has about 25 outlets in Lagos. (updated May 2022)

Protea, a South African group, has three hotels in Lagos, all of acceptable standard but not cheap. The prices are reduced if you hold a group loyalty card, the ProKard.

The Wheatbaker, owned by Legacy Hotels and Resorts, a South African hospitality chain, is on Lagos Island.

• Argentina, 21, Sidikatu Yakubu Street, Iju Ajuwon, ☏ +234 1 6565058. 
• Austria, 3B, Ligali Ayorinde, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1 2691507-11. 
• Belguim, 1A, Murtala Muhammed Drive, (formerly Bank Road), Ikoyi, P.O. Box 149, ☏ +234 1 2616081. 
• Brazil, Plot 257, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, P.O. Box 72802, ☏ +234-1-4628958-60, +234-80-54002145. 
• Cameroon, 5, Elsie Femi Pearse Street, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1 612226, +234 1 614386. 
• Canada, 4 Anifowoshe Street, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1 271-5650, +234 1 262-2512, fax: +234 1 271-5651, +234 1 262-2517, lagos@international.gc.ca. 
• Chad, 2 Goriola Street, P.O. Box 70662, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1-613116. 
• China, Plot 161A, Idejo Street, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1-2715350, Chinaconsul_lg_ng@mfa.gov.cn. 
• Denmark, Maersk House, 121 Louis Solomon Close, P.O. Box 72554, Victoria Island, Lagos, ☏ +234-1-2610660, +234-1-2611503. 
• Equatorial Guinea, 7, Murtala Mohammed Drive, Ikoyi, ☏ +234 1 684976. 
• Ethiopia, 9c, Fatai Durosinmi Etti Street, Victoria Island. 8am to 5pm. 
• Finland, 21, Sidikatu Yakubu street, Iju Ajuwon, ☏ +234 8135881249. 8am to 5pm. 
• France, 1 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, ☏ +234 1 269 34 27, +234 1 269 34 28, +234 1 269 34 29, fax: +234 1 269 36 54. 
• Germany, 15, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1 280 9966, +234 1 280 9967, fax: +234 1 280 9969. 
• Greece, 35 Agbodogba Avenue, Park View Estate, Ikoyi. 
• India, 8-A, Walter Carrington Crescent, P.M.B. 80128, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1-4480876, +234 1 4480877, fax: +234 1-4480882, cons.lagos@mea.gov.in. 
• Indonesia, 5B, Anifowoshe Street, Victoria Island, P.O. Box 3473, ☏ +234-1 261601, +234 1 2610508. 
• Italy, 2, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1 2619881. 
• Lebanon, 18 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1-2610129, fax: +234 1-2614511. 
• Netherlands, 24, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1 2613005. 8AM–5PM. 
• Norway, 3 Anifowoshe Street, Victoria Island, PO Box 2431, Marina, ☏ +234-1-2618467-8. 
• Republic of Korea, Plot 934, Idejo Street, Victoria Island, GPO Box 4668, ☏ +234 1 2615353, +234 1 2615420. 
• Russia, 5 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, P.O. Box 2723, ☏ +234 1 2613359, +234 1 2615022. 

• Senegal, 14 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1-611722. 
• Serbia, 7 Maitama Sule Street, S/W Ikoyi, ☏ +234-1-2690912, +234 1 2694202. 
• Singapore, 81-A Younis Bashorun Street, Off Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1 4489888, +234 1 4619088, +234 8099678888, fax: +234 1 4489333. 
• South Africa, 24 Molade Okoya Thomas Street, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1 461 2050, fax: +234 1 461 2066, safrica@nigol.net.ng. 
• Spain, 21C Kofo Abayomi Road, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1-461-7618, +234 1-280-5488, fax: +234 1-461-7397, cog.lagos@maec.es. 
• United Kingdom, 11 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1 277 0780, +234 802 705 2098, fax: +234 1 2770789. 
• United States of America, 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, ☏ +234 1-460-3400, fax: +234 1-261-9856, uslagos@state.gov. 

• Venezuela, 35B, Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, P.O. Box 3727, ☏ +234 1-2611590.