Although Nigeria lies wholly within the
tropical zone, there are wide climatic variations in different areas of the
country. Near the coast, the seasons are not sharply defined. Temperatures
rarely exceed 32°C (90°F), but humidity is very high and nights are
hot.. Inland, there are two distinct seasons: a wet season from April to
October, with generally lower temperature, and a dry season from November to
March, with midday temperatures that surpass 38°C (100°F) but
relatively cool nights. On the Jos Plateau, temperature are more moderate
Average rainfall along the coast varies from 70 inches in the west to
about 170 inches in certain parts of the east. Inland it decreases to around 50
inches over most of central Nigeria and only 20 inches in the extreme
north.
Two principal wind currents affect Nigeria; the harmattan, from
the northeast, is hot and dry and carries reddish dust from the desert. and
causes high temperatures during the day and cool nights. and the southwest wind
brings cloudy and rainy weather.
Visas are required by
everyone except national from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia,
Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal,
Sierra Leone and Togo. Passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months after
the intended departure date. Visas are not issued on any land borders or on
arrival at the airport.
Domestic flights
operate between Lagos and Maiduguri, Abuja, Kaduna, Benin City, Enugu, Kano,
Jos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Sokoto and Yola and someother cities. Helicopters
have regular flights to the oilfields, and charter services are available as
well. Fares can be paid for in local currency.
Rail: The
service connects Lagos to Kano and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri with stopovers at
various towns. The service is unreliable and poor and often does not run. but
when it does it is a cheap way of getting around.
Public
Transport: The southern part of the country is well connected by a bus
service but further north the main form of transport is shared taxis of up to
six people.. Motorcycle taxis are common in the cities and outskirts.
Road conditions
are deteriorating and there are many pot-holes. Some lesser used roads are
impassable during and after the rains. Beware of unmarked roads blocks. Petrol
is very cheap in Nigeria. Driving is on the right hand side and an
International Driving Licence is required. Car Hire is available in Lagos and
Abuja.
If you need medical care whilst in
Nigeria, it is best to be aware that medical providers may not accept payment
through your insurance company. In these circumstances you will have to pay in
full after your treatment and file a claim with your insurance company for
reimbursement. Therefore you should have access to cash, either from a credit
card or by wire transfer. If you need assistance contact the country's local
embassy or representative.
To be compensated you must be treated by
licensed medical personnel and provide your insurance company with proper
documentation and receipts.
It is advisable to always ensure you have a
comprehensive travel insurance policy which covers you for repatriation to your
home country.
You can check out the following websites which specialise
in long term travellers, adventure travellers, backpackers and workers based
abroad.
Insure and Go - UK Travellers whether it's for a one
off holiday or if you travel many times over the year, if you're off
backpacking before university or you're retired and looking to explore the
world; if you're after winter sports cover or if it's for a business trip, a
wedding abroad or a golfing weekend away, we have a policy at the right price
to ensure you have the peace of mind that you are covered for the unexpected
while you're away.
- UK Travellers Offering a full range of policies,
single trip, young travellers, long stay, annual cover for UK residents. Get
your quote and policy on-line....
Insure My Trip - USA travellers offer 63 different
travel insurance plans from 14 different companies - no other site has such
product depth or comparison features. You can compare each policy giving you
the information you need to make an informed decision about your travel
insurance needs. .
Downunder Insurance - UK - Australia and New Zealand
Travellers offers travel insurance to travellers and residents in the
UK, Australia and New Zealand. Our cover ranges from basic to highly
comprehensive, with affordable policies aimed at backpackers and gap-year
students, but with cover available to travellers and holiday makers up to 55
years of age.
