Living in Nigeria

As Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria is an appealing expat destination for many looking to launch businesses or careers on the continent. This guide covers everything you need to know about living in Nigeria – from the reasons to move there, pros and cons, cost of living, quality of life, culture and best places to settle.

Why Move to Nigeria?

Nigeria offers expatriates many unique advantages:

• Booming oil, gas and technology sectors provide abundant jobs and business opportunities.
• Youthful, entrepreneurial and English-speaking population. Nigeria has the continent’s largest workforce.
• Fast-growing economy. Nigeria has surpassed South Africa as the largest African economy.
• Huge consumer market of over 200 million people for brands and businesses. Massive growth potential.
• Lively mega-cities like Lagos and Abuja with affluent consumers hungry for brands.
• High pay packages for expats, especially in lucrative industries like oil/gas and tech.
• Vibrant nightlife scene and pop culture. Nigeria is a cultural trendsetter across Africa.
• Home to Nollywood – the world’s second largest film industry pumping out thousands of movies yearly.
• Hub for African music from pop artists like Davido, Wizkid and Burna Boy. Offerings span afrobeats, hip hop, R&B and more.

Living in Nigeria: Pros and Cons

Despite many upsides, Nigeria still has numerous development challenges:

Pros

1. Massive economic opportunities
2. Youthful, ambitious workforce
3. Booming industries like tech, finance and entertainment
4. Huge population means massive consumer demand
5. Lively nightlife and pop culture creativity
6. High salaries for qualified expats
7. English widely spoken as the official language
8. Growing middle class with appetite for shopping

Cons

1. Ongoing problems with corruption, fraud and lack of transparency
2. Unreliable infrastructure including power, roads and utilities
3. Environmental pollution and waste issues
4. High crime rates in urban areas
5. Bureaucracy and complex business environment
6. Uneven healthcare quality often requiring private clinics
7. High wealth inequality across the population
8. Potential political instability and risk of unrest
9. Situation can be unsafe for foreigners in certain regions

If the rewards outweigh the risks, Nigeria offers expats thriving industries and an energetic population full of potential. But development issues persist.

The Cost of Living in Nigeria: A Comprehensive Guide

While specific costs vary across different cities and neighborhoods, Nigeria has an overall moderate cost of living compared to other major African economies like South Africa or Kenya.

• Housing – Rent for an apartment in a modern complex starts around $1,000-2,000 per month depending on size and location. Buying is attainable, with properties from $50,000.
• Food – Groceries like produce, meat and staples cost just $150-300 per month for two people. Eating out costs $5-10 for local food, $10-25 at international restaurants.
• Transportation – Fuel runs around $4.50 per gallon. Older used cars start around $3,000. Uber and taxis are inexpensive ways to get around.
• Healthcare – Public healthcare has major quality issues, so private clinics and insurance are needed. Expat policies start around $1,500 annually.
• Utilities – Electricity, water, garbage, internet and phone service totals around $200 per month. Generator costs extra for power outages.
• Education – Top schools cost $5,000-10,000 per year. Public schools often have overcrowding and discipline issues.
• Leisure – Activities like clubbing, movies, and gym memberships run just $5-15 per person. But costs are higher in upscale neighborhoods.
• Taxes – Nigeria has comparatively low taxes, including a flat corporate tax of 30% and highest marginal income tax rate of 24%.

Quality of Life in Nigeria

While Nigeria has made major economic strides, quality of life by global standards still faces challenges:

1. Affordability – For middle class locals and expats, abundant cheap domestic help and services allow disposable income to stretch further. But poverty remains high.
2. Infrastructure – Unreliable access to basics like power and water hamper productivity and convenience. Roads are poorly maintained outside major highways.
3. Environment – Lack of environmental regulations has led to extensive pollution issues, particularly in the Niger Delta oil regions.
4. Security – Crime rates are high in urban areas. Police response is understaffed. Most homes and businesses need private security.
5. Healthcare – Nigeria lacks adequate healthcare for its population with just 30,000 doctors for over 200 million people. Expats need private care.
6. Education – While education is prized, public schools often have 100+ students per crowded classroom and lack resources.
7. Equality – Massive wealth inequality exists. Poverty rates remain over 40%. Women face discrimination in education, pay and politics.
8. Life Satisfaction – Nigeria ranks among the lowest nations globally in happiness and life satisfaction due to infrastructure, unemployment, corruption and inequality.

For middle class locals and expats, Nigeria provides opportunity and amenities. But development gaps lower overall quality of life.

A Beginner’s Guide to Nigerian Culture

Here is a brief overview of Nigerian culture to understand etiquette, values and day-to-day life:

• Nigerians typically have large extended families and put family first.
• Respecting elders is critical. Greet elders first and shake hands with men but not women.
• Traditional gender roles are common – men lead while women manage the home.
• Social life often centers around faith communities at churches or mosques.
• Nigerians dress elegantly and fashion is important, especially indigenous textiles.
• The official language is English but hundreds of languages and dialects are spoken, usually tied to ethnic identity.
• Nigerian cuisine like jollof rice, suya or egusi stew appears at most gatherings.
• Homes and businesses have security guards. Kidnapping risks and scams targeting foreigners persist.
• Lively nightlife thrives in cities. Lagos and Abuja have active clubbing scenes.
• Negotiating prices in markets is expected. Prices can be marked up for foreigners.

Best Places for Expats in Nigeria

Many foreign residents settle in the major urban centers:

1. Lagos – Nigeria’s massive commercial hub is the best place for careers and entertainment but has major traffic and density.
2. Abuja – The nation’s capital has major business and diplomatic activities with better infrastructure than Lagos. It’s more planned and orderly.
3. Port Harcourt – This is the oil industry center and a major expat destination. It’s considered more livable than Lagos.
4. Enugu – A safer city option in southeastern Nigeria. Home to coal mining and tech firms.
5. Ibadan – Centrally located large city with more affordable costs. A hub for education and manufacturing.
6. Calabar – In southern coastal Nigeria, this port city has natural scenes along the Cross River and less congestion.

Nigeria offers everything from bustling mega-cities to smaller towns with multinational communities. Security precautions are warranted given Nigeria’s risks. But it provides African frontier market opportunities.