By Air
The main international gateway is Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS), in Ikeja, about 22km north of central Lagos. It handles the bulk of international traffic and connects to London, New York, Dubai, Amsterdam, Johannesburg, and most major African hubs. Expect the airport to be busy and the arrivals process to be slow. Watch your belongings — it has a reputation for confusion and opportunistic scams, including people posing as officials.
Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (ABJ) is a cleaner, less chaotic alternative and is the better arrival point if you're heading to Abuja or the north. Several European and Middle Eastern carriers serve it alongside the Lagos route.
Kano Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (KAN) serves the north and has connections to other West African cities.
Airlines that fly into Nigeria include British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Ethiopian Airlines, Air France/KLM, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Egypt Air, and Royal Air Maroc. Air Peace is the largest Nigerian carrier and operates domestic routes as well as some regional international flights.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry. Carry the original card — it is checked on arrival.
By Land
Nigeria shares land borders with Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. The most-used crossing is at Seme on the Lagos–Cotonou road, which connects to Benin. This is a busy, functional border but can be slow. The crossing into Cameroon at Mfum (near Ikom) is used by travellers on the trans-African route. Border crossings in the northeast (toward Chad) and northwest (toward Niger) should be checked for current safety conditions before attempting — the security situation in these regions can change.
By Sea
Cargo ships occasionally take passengers on the Lagos run from European ports, but this is not a practical option for most travellers. Occasional ferry connections exist between Lagos and Cameroon.