Local Tip
The gap between the official naira rate and the street rate is now small, so an unlicensed changer is not worth the risk. Use a CBN-licensed bureau de change, keep its receipt, and expect anything above about USD 500 to be paid into an account or onto a prepaid naira card rather than in notes.
Where to change money in Lagos
Nigeria merged its separate exchange windows into one market in October 2023, and the Central Bank of Nigeria then rebuilt the bureau sector: just 82 bureaux hold final licences, from 27 November 2025. In August 2026 the CBN governor said bureau rates were now within 2 per cent of the official rate, Nairametrics reported. No Lagos bureau had backing from two sources, so ask your hotel for the nearest licensed one.
- A CBN-licensed bureau de change - The CBN's 2024 guidelines require every bureau to post its buying and selling rates and issue an electronic receipt with its location, your name, the rate, the amount and the time. No posted rate or receipt: go elsewhere.
- Bank branches - Nothing checked says whether banks change notes for visitors without an account, so do not rely on one.
Changing money at the airport
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) serves Lagos. Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria pages could not be opened, so the airport's exchange desks, cash machines and charges are unconfirmed; change only enough for the first journey.
The FCDO warns of fake greeters at the airport and says taxis, app-booked ones included, can carry a kidnap risk. It points to the chauffeured cars most big hotels provide, so book a transfer through your hotel and get the driver's details beforehand. Allow extra time for the traffic, and keep your camera away: photographing airports may lead to arrest.
ATMs and cards in Lagos
Cash still matters in Lagos, and no bank site checked confirms what a cash machine charges a UK card or how much it pays out. Check the fee on screen before accepting, and allow for your UK bank's charge.
The FCDO reports more crime around banks and ATMs, so withdraw with care, above all after dark. It calls card fraud common: never let your card out of sight when paying, and do not carry large sums. Offered naira or pounds on a terminal, pick naira: Which? notes the seller fixes the rate for pounds. Card acceptance in shops and hotels, and bank transfers for visitors, were not confirmed, so ask first and keep some naira to hand.
Paying for transport in Lagos
Lagos has two urban rail lines. The Blue Line runs 13 km from Marina to Mile 2 with five stations; The Guardian gave the full-trip fare as N750 in September 2026, paid with a Cowry card, the state's contactless transport card. The Red Line has carried passengers between Oyingbo and Agbado since September 2024, via Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja and Agege; its fares were not confirmed. LAMATA's pages could not be opened, so ask your hotel where to buy and top up a Cowry card.
For most visitors a hotel car with a driver remains the practical choice. If you book a ride-hailing car, check that the car and driver match the app.
Good to know
- Visa on arrival has ended: apply and pay online before travel through the Nigeria Immigration Service e-Visa portal (FCDO, NIS), and fill in the landing and departure cards online too.
- Your passport must have six months left from your arrival date (FCDO), and you may face thermal screening and a travel history check at the airport.
- The FCDO does not advise against travel to Lagos, but it urges care, especially on the mainland and on foot at night, because of street crime.
Key Areas in Lagos
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Lagos travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Lagos?
A bureau de change holding a CBN licence, which must post its rates and give you an electronic receipt. With bureau rates now close to the official one, a street changer offers little gain for the risk.
Is the street rate still much better than the official rate in Lagos?
No longer. The gap has narrowed sharply since the CBN merged its exchange windows in October 2023; in August 2026 the governor put it below 2 per cent. Rates move daily, so compare on the day.
Will a Lagos bureau pay me in naira notes?
It may, for sums up to the equivalent of USD 500, and tourists are an allowed source of currency. Above that, CBN rules send the naira to a Nigerian bank account or, for non-residents, onto a prepaid naira card from the bureau.
Checked October 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: Central Bank of Nigeria · Nairametrics · GOV.UK (FCDO) · Nigeria Immigration Service · The Guardian (Nigeria) · Which?
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