Nigeria Country Code (+234): Complete Guide to Calling Nigeria
Complete guide to Nigeria country code +234. Learn how to dial Nigeria from abroad, understand Lagos, Abuja area codes, mobile carriers (MTN, Glo, Airtel, 9mobile), and save money.
Quick Facts: Nigeria Country Code
| Country Code | +234 |
| International Prefix | 009 (from Nigeria) |
| Number Format | +234 XXX XXX XXXX |
| Time Zone | WAT (UTC+1) |
| Major Carriers | MTN, Glo, Airtel, 9mobile |
How to Dial Nigeria
The Nigeria country code is +234. Always drop the leading 0 when calling from abroad.
From the USA
Format: 011 + 234 + number (no 0)
Example (Lagos): 011-234-1-XXX-XXXX
From UK/Europe
Format: 00 + 234 + number (no 0)
Example (Abuja): 00-234-9-XXX-XXXX
Mobile Numbers
Format: +234 + 10-digit number (no 0)
Example: +234-803-XXX-XXXX (MTN)
Nigeria Area Codes
| City | Area Code |
|---|---|
| Lagos | 01 |
| Abuja | 09 |
| Ibadan | 02 |
| Kano | 064 |
| Port Harcourt | 084 |
| Benin City | 052 |
Mobile Carriers in Nigeria
Nigeria has over 200 million mobile subscriptions - one of Africa's largest markets:
- MTN Nigeria (~38%): Largest network, prefixes 0803, 0806, 0703, 0813, 0816
- Glo/Globacom (~28%): Nigerian-owned, prefixes 0805, 0807, 0705, 0815
- Airtel Nigeria (~27%): Indian telecom, prefixes 0802, 0808, 0708, 0812
- 9mobile (~7%): Formerly Etisalat, prefixes 0809, 0817, 0818, 0908
WhatsApp in Nigeria
90%+ of Nigerians use WhatsApp - it's the primary communication tool for both personal and business use. Many small businesses operate entirely through WhatsApp for orders and customer service.
Nigeria's Tech Hub
Nigeria hosts Africa's largest startup ecosystem. Lagos's "Yaba" district is nicknamed "Yabacon Valley" and is home to companies like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Andela.
Cost to Call Nigeria
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| BubblyPhone | $0.05-0.12/min |
| Carrier (AT&T/Verizon) | $3.00-5.00/min |
| T-Mobile | $0.30/min or higher |
| Free (app-to-app) |
Time Zone
Nigeria uses WAT (West Africa Time, UTC+1) year-round with no daylight saving:
- 12 PM EST = 6 PM in Nigeria
- 9 AM PST = 6 PM in Nigeria
- 12 PM GMT = 1 PM in Nigeria
Pro Tips for Calling Nigeria
- Drop the 0: Nigerian numbers start with 0 domestically - remove it internationally
- Use WhatsApp: 90%+ adoption - the default communication method
- Mobile Prefixes: 0803 (MTN), 0805 (Glo), 0802 (Airtel), 0809 (9mobile)
- Business Hours: Lagos business hours are 8 AM - 5 PM WAT
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