Here are some guides and pointers to life and administration in Nigeria, for the benefit of other foreigners/expats, in particular.
- Getting money into Nigeria (UK/Europe, US, Canada) and opening Nigerian bank accounts
- Updating car particulars
- Renewing your Nigerian driving licence:
- Get a NIN application for National Identification Number.
- Then find an enrolment centre near you to complete the process. Foreigners will need your green card, international passport, e-mmigration registration sheet.
- Get an ISBN number from the National Library of Nigeria for publishing a book.
- It costs about ₦2900. Validate identity with NIN or Passport. You can do it all online within minutes, paying with your Bank card.
- Mail/Post to and from Nigeria
- Contrary to what many Nigerians believe NIPOST does offer effective postal services.
- NIPOST normally deliver to PO Boxes, not to street addresses, though some international packages can be sent to a street address. I sometimes add both my PO Box and street address to packages and a phone number just in case.
- Postal rates for international letters have increased in 2021. Until 2019 it cost about ₦150 to send a letter or postcard anywhere in the world, but in 2019 it cost ₦500 and now in 2021 it’s ₦1500, which seems a bit steep. That’s a real pity.
- It may be worthwhile opening a private PO Box:
- Just go into a Post Office, with at least 2 passport photos (take 4 just in case), an International Passport, and about ₦6-7000 (in 2017) and ask to open a PO Box. The forms shouldn’t take too long to complete. You need to get someone as a referee. You’ll get a key and a photo id card and a post office directory for all of Nigeria.
- I opened a box at Anglo Jos post office and am on friendly terms with the staff there who often call me if a package comes in.
- You need to renew annually, at a cost of around ₦6000 (previously was ₦3500).
Is there anything else you have a question about? Feel free to ask below.