Nigeria

Nigeria stretches from Atlantic lagoons and rainforest to savannas and the drier north. Lagos combines markets, art, Afrobeats and Nollywood. Abuja, the capital, brings religious buildings and Aso Rock into the national portrait. Many languages and regional identities shape everyday life.

The German Foreign Office warns against travel to many regions, including Kano, Plateau around Jos, Bauchi with Yankari, northern Adamawa with Sukur, and the Cameroon border. For Edo and Cross River, its strong advice against travel exempts only their capitals when reached by air. It also strongly advises against coastal waters and generally against overland travel. Elsewhere, non-essential travel is discouraged except to Abuja, Lagos and greater Ibadan, where particular caution remains necessary. Check current regional and health guidance. Kidnapping, terrorism and violent crime remain risks. Show more

In the southwest, Badagry preserves places of remembrance connected with the transatlantic slave trade. Abeokuta combines Olumo Rock and adire indigo textiles, while Ibadan adds university life and historic urban architecture. Erin-Ijesha's waterfalls cascade through wooded hills. The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is a UNESCO cultural property and a living Yoruba religious landscape, with shrines and sculptures.

Benin City preserves Edo court traditions, the Oba's palace and brass-casting heritage. It belongs to Nigeria, not the neighbouring Republic of Benin. Calabar links river-port history and remembrance of enslavement with contemporary carnival culture. The Obudu highlands offer grassland and forest landscapes, without promising operating facilities or transport.

Jos introduces plateau scenery and museum collections, while Kano represents Hausa trading history, markets and dyeing traditions. Yankari Game Reserve protects savanna habitats and elephants, without guaranteeing sightings. Sukur's UNESCO cultural landscape combines a stone-built palace, terraced fields and traces of ironworking. Heritage status does not guarantee visitor access.

Regional kitchens include jollof rice, suya, amala, pounded yam and varied soups. Rainfall is generally heavier and longer-lasting in the south, while northern dry seasons bring Harmattan dust. Heavy rain can cause flooding and disrupt roads. Respect local religious customs and seek permission before photographing people or entering sacred places.

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