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Country Commercial Guides for FY 2000: Nigeria Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Abuja, released July 1999 Note*

CHAPTER IX: BUSINESS TRAVEL

The Department of State issues necessary warnings to U.S. citizens on travel to Nigeria. Violent crime, practiced by persons in police and military uniforms, as well as by ordinary criminals, is an acute problem. Harassment and shakedowns of foreigners and Nigerians alike by uniformed personnel and others occur frequently throughout the country. The most important precaution for business visitors is to be met on arrival at the airport by a known and trusted associate, or other person whose identity can be verified.

Nigerian business, charity and other scams target foreigners worldwide and pose dangers of financial loss and even physical harm. Persons contemplating business deals are strongly urged to check with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or the U.S. Secret Service before providing any information, making any financial commitments or traveling to Nigeria. Under no circumstances should American citizens travel to Nigeria without a valid visa. Invitation to enter Nigeria without a visa is normally indicative of illegal activity.

U.S. business representatives need not, however, drop Nigeria from countries to visit. It is simply necessary to take certain precautions, such as being met at the airport by a trusted associate. U.S. citizens wishing to travel to Nigeria can apply for a visa through the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C. or the Nigerian Consulate in New York City. Travelers should always obtain the "Consular Sheet" before traveling to anycountry abroad.

The U.S. Department of State and Nigerian authorities require a yellow fever shot of all travelers arriving in Nigeria. They also recommend a cholera shot for travelers arriving from an infected area, and meningitis inoculation for those traveling in the countryside, especially in the North.

LANGUAGE

English is the official language of Nigeria, although it is a second language for many Nigerians who also speak one of several indigenous languages, such as Yoruba, Hausa and Ibo. Business travelers will find that most government officials and business people speak English well.

BUSINESS CUSTOMS

Business establishments and government offices generally open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with offices closed for lunch from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Many government offices and businesses hold staff meetings on Monday and Friday mornings, sometimes making it difficult to see people at those times. In the Muslim north, all establishments close at 1:00 p.m. on Friday.

Business appointments preferably are made through personal calls or hand-delivered messages, since the telephone/fax system is unreliable and the mail is slow. Nigerians are not known for punctuality. Visitors should make their contacts well before departure from the United States. Important documents or correspondence should be sent via reputable courier, such as DHL or UPS, and show a Private Mail Bag (PMB) or Post Office Box (P.O. Box) as well as street address.

Business visitors should be well-dressed. Casual dress may convey a casual attitude, especially to European-trained Nigerians. Titles should be used, particularly the honorific titles of traditional leaders. Company representatives should be flexible in business dealings and able to make decisions on contractual matters without lengthy referral to their home offices. In Nigeria, important business is conducted face-to-face. No worthwhile transactions can be completed quickly or impersonally. Follow-up visits are common.

The Nigerian currency is the Naira, which is divided into 100 rarely-used kobo coins. As the largest bank note in circulation is currently worth about $.50, it is often necessary to handle and carry around large wads of cash.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Hotels in major Nigerian cities are adequate. Business, 5-star or deluxe hotels of U.S. or European standard should not be expected, however. Accommodation reservations must be made well in advance. Hotels demand an advance cash deposit at the time of booking for the entire period being reserved. Some hotels require a deposit to cover meals as well. Tipping is optional, as most hotels have a 5 percent valued added tax (VAT) and 10 percent service charge, but staff expects gratuities nevertheless.

Air conditioning and hot water are often a problem in hotels, in addition to the frequent breakdown of elevators. Few hotels have working smoke detectors, and emergency exits are often sealed. Telephone service is erratic, often making contact even within the hotel difficult, as well as creating obstacles to confirming or changing onward reservations. Room laundry service is usually offered.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has embarked on strict enforcement of directives that foreign visitors to Nigeria must pay for hotel accommodations in foreign currency.

TRANSPORTATION

Taxi service is available in Lagos and most other urban areas, but cabs are not recommended as they are old, often unreliable, and occasionally unsafe. If taxis are used, fares should be negotiated in advance, particularly to and from airports.

Cars with drivers are also available for hire through hotels and car rental agents, and use of those services is a highly recommended alternative. Congested airport facilities in Lagos often lead to long delays, and airline reservations may not be honored due to overbooking, especially on domestic flights. Domestic airline schedules are fairly reliable and lack of aviation fuel can delay or cancel flights. Travelers on international flights should arrive at the airport at least two hours before scheduled departure. Air accidents in recent years have increased concern about maintenance standards on domestic airlines.

ROAD CONDITIONS

Nigerian roads are in poor shape, causing damage to vehicles and contributing to hazardous traffic conditions. Deep ruts and potholes abound. Roads flood in torrential rainstorms. There are no traffic lights or stop signs. Motorists seldom yield right-of-way. Traffic congestion in built up areas often causes gridlock. Failure to promptly remove disabled vehicles, corpses and other obstacles from the roadway further contributes to traffic congestion and compounds unsafe driving practices. Street lighting is insufficient and often out of order, making night driving all the more risky.

HOLIDAYS

Holidays falling on Saturdays are observed on Saturdays, and Sunday holidays on Sundays.

The Muslim holidays of Eid-El-Fitri and Eid-El-Kabir are usually celebrated for two consecutive work days. No permanent dates exist for these Muslim holidays-- they are observed as announced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

January 1 New Year's Day
Eid-El-Fitri*
Good Friday
Easter Monday
May 1 Workers Day
Eid-El-Kabir*
Eid-El-Malud*
October 1 Nigerian National Day
December 25 Christmas Day
December 26 Boxing Day

CLIMATE

Although Nigeria lies within the tropics, its climate varies considerably from north to south. Temperatures range from 75-90 degrees F in the south and from 65-100 degrees F in the north. The south is humid throughout the year, while the north is humid from May until October. There are two rainy seasons in the south, March-July and September-November, and one in the north, April-October. The dry season in the north is usually dusty from Saharan winds called the Harmattan. Rainfall varies from 150 inches a year on the coast to 25 inches or less in the far northern regions of the country.

MEDICAL CONSIDERATIONS

A number of infectious diseases are prevalent in Nigeria. Untreated water, ice and peeled fruits and raw vegetables should be avoided. Visitors can be turned back at the port of entry if their yellow fever immunization is not current. Regular use of malaria suppressants is strongly recommended. Vaccinations for cholera, typhoid, tetanus, meningitis and protection against hepatitis are also strongly suggested. Visitors should consult their physician or local health authorities about the current inoculations recommended and required before a visit to Nigeria.

Medical facilities are available in Nigeria, but in practice foreign business visitors normally restrict themselves to private clinics, available in large urban areas. Many common household medicines and some prescription drugs are locally available, but the business traveler should carry an ample supply of any special medications required.

SAFETY

Most U.S. citizens who travel to Nigeria do so without incident. However, a major development in the past few years is the fraudulent business scams that target foreigners, including a significant number of U.S. citizens. Those not familiar with doing business in Nigeria should not respond to unsolicited offers. These are usually both fraudulent and illegal and could involve situations that potentially violate both Nigerian and U.S. law. Nigerian authorities can treat fraud "victims" as accomplices in crime.

In some cases, victims have been subjected to extortion and in extreme cases to bodily harm. Nigerian police may not always inform U.S. authorities of an American citizen in distress and victims may not always have the opportunity to communicate for assistance since they may be sequestered under highly controlled conditions.

The most common form of Nigerian fraudulent business schemes, the advance fee fraud, popularly known as "419", involves an offer to transfer large sums of money with promises of commissions after up-front payments are made by the potential victim. Alleged contracts frequently invoke the authority of a Ministry or officer of the Nigerian Government and may even name a government official. Sophisticated forged documents may also be provided using government letterhead from the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and others, along with a variety of official-looking stamps and seals.

U.S. citizens should not be lured to Nigeria to pursue such offers. Before planning a trip to Nigeria, first-time business travelers should consult with their nearest U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Office. Upon entry into Nigeria, U.S. citizens should immediately register with the American Citizens Division of the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy in Lagos.

American Embassy
2 Eleke Crescent
Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: (234-1) 261-0078
Fax: (234-1) 261-2218

The Embassy's Abuja (Nigeria's new political capital) Office is available to provide certain emergency consular services. The office is located at:

9 Mambilla Street
Maitama District
Abuja
Federal Capital Territory

Tel: (234)(9) 523-0960, 523-5839, 523-5857, 523-5227
Fax: (234)(9) 523-0353

Travel advisory phone nos.: (202) 647-5225
(202) 647-9225