Doing Business in Nigeria
Failure to comply with all curfews and movement restrictions could put you at significant risk. You should check with the local authorities or someone with local knowledge for up-to-date information on curfews and restrictions before you travel.
Road travel Traffic can be chaotic and slow moving. Take a mobile telephone with you when travelling by car so that you can stay in touch with others. Keep a supply of bottled water in your vehicle at all times.
In Lagos, eating, smoking or using a mobile phone while driving and riding a motorcycle without a helmet are prohibited. Motorists face fines or imprisonment for violations.
Take care when driving outside cities. There are frequent reports of robberies and car-jackings, some involving armed gunmen, on Nigeria’s urban and rural road network. Consider travelling in convoy, and if possible avoid making journeys that involve travel after dark. Avoid quieter and poorly lit roads. Be particularly vigilant when sitting in traffic jams or at traffic lights. Keep car windows up and doors locked, and make sure valuables are out of sight. If you feel your vehicle is being followed, drive to the nearest place of safety (e.g. the nearest police station). There are authorised and unauthorised vehicle checkpoints throughout Nigeria. Some are for security checks, others to extort small payments of money. You should slow down at any type of checkpoint and use common sense at all times.
Public transport is dangerous. Taxis and long distance buses are often poorly maintained, uninsured and driven by unqualified drivers. Most major hotels offer cars for hire with drivers. You should use these where possible.
If you are expecting a greeter or driver to collect you at any of Nigeria’s international airports, make sure they have properly identified themselves before you set off. Bogus greeters are a problem.
Air travel There are concerns about the safety and reliability of some airline companies operating domestic flights within Nigeria. You can find a list of recent incidents and accidents on the website of the Aviation Safety network: http://aviation-safety.net /database/country/country.php?id=5N.
Airlines flying between Nigeria and London can occasionally become overbooked. Check the FCO travel advice at: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ nigeria for more-detailed and up-to-date information. Health
Visit your health professional at least four-to-six weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Countryspecific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre on the TravelHealthPro website: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/ countries and by NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website: http://www.fitfortravel .nhs.uk/destinations.aspx.
www.Nigeria.DoingBusinessGuide.co.uk
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