eSIM for Nigeria

Viasimo's Nigeria eSIM starts at $1.29 for 100 MB over 7 days, running on Glo with 4G LTE where available. Plans last 1 to 180 days, arrive by email in minutes and install from your phone's settings, with no app.

Works everywhere in Nigeria

Abia State
Adamawa
Akwa Ibom State
Anambra
Bauchi
Bayelsa State
Benue State

Select your planIn stock

Duration

Quantity

Unlimited data · 3 Days$21.99

Unlimited data · 3 Days ×1

$21.99

Going to more than one country? See regional plans

Does my phone take an eSIM? Check now

Dial *#06# on your phone. If you see an EID number, your phone takes an eSIM. Most phones sold since 2019 do.

Not sure it works on your phone? Check compatibility

Network

Which networks does the Nigeria eSIM use?

Host networks: Glo

Your eSIM picks one automatically; you do not choose or switch between them.

Data: 100 MB – 20 GB or unlimited
Validity: 1–180 days
Speed: 4G LTE
Hotspot / tethering: Supported on most devices
Activation: Automatic on arrival
Speed management: Roughly 2-3 GB per day at full speed, sometimes less depending on the local carrier, then reduced
Top-ups: Add more data from your account, before the plan expires
Text messages (SMS): Data only: use an app for verification codes
Connects via: United Kingdom
Unused validity: 180 days before it must be installed

Setting up Buy, scan the QR code we email you, and switch on the travel line when you land. How it works

Choosing a plan

How much data do you need?

The allowances below are our sizing recommendations, not measurements. The plan beside each one is the cheapest option on this page that covers it.

Recommended data allowances matched to the plans sold for this destination
You are	Plan for	Cheapest plan that covers it
LightMaps, messaging and the occasional lookup	About 1 GB a week	$5.991 GB, 7 days
TypicalMaps, social, photos and some browsing	About 3 to 7 GB a week	$21.995 GB, 30 days
HeavyVideo streaming, video calls and uploads	10 GB a week or more	$38.9910 GB, 30 days
Working or sharingTethering a laptop, calls and cloud sync	20 GB a week or more	$47.99Unlimited, 7 days

Work it out from your own habits

What a week abroad costs

eSIM, local SIM or roaming?

Charged per day

Your carrier roaming

Queue and plastic

A SIM at the airport

$1.29

Viasimo, one bundle

Only the Viasimo figure is a price: it comes from today’s live catalog. The other two rows are directional, not quoted rates.

About this eSIM

Nigeria runs on the phone. Rides, transfers, deliveries, meetings, directions to a building that has no visible number: it all goes through a data connection, and being without one in Lagos is genuinely limiting rather than merely inconvenient. A Nigeria eSIM puts a local line on your device before you leave the airport, working alongside your home number so you keep receiving calls on it as normal.

Getting online when you land

Add the profile at home on wifi, ahead of the flight. Completing the install requires data, and arrivals at Murtala Muhammed or Nnamdi Azikiwe is a bad moment to be without it, especially with drivers and touts competing for your attention.

Once down, leave airplane mode, turn the travel line on, and set it as the data line. Data roaming is toggled per line, so enabling it on the travel line has no effect on your home number. Turn mobile data off on the home line and leave calls and texts running there.

Do this before you go through to the pickup area. The single most useful thing a connection gives you on arrival in Lagos is the ability to summon a ride through an app, follow it on the map, and message your driver, instead of negotiating in a crowded car park with no idea what anything should cost.

The networks you'll be on

Your phone attaches to Glo, a Nigerian network, automatically, and Glo carries 4G LTE. The handset hands over on its own, and you do not need to configure anything.

In practice you will spend most of your time on 4G/LTE, which is the workhorse layer nationally. In busy areas at busy times, capacity rather than coverage is what slows you down, and a page that stalls in Lagos traffic usually loads a street later.

Where coverage holds, and where it thins

The cities are strong. Lagos holds up across the mainland and the island districts, and Abuja, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Kano, Benin City, Enugu, Kaduna and Calabar are all well served. The major expressways between them are broadly covered, and you will stay online for most of an intercity drive.

It thins as you leave the corridors. Rural farmland in the middle belt, the northern semi-desert away from the towns, the creeks and riverine communities of the Niger Delta, and forest reserves such as Yankari, Cross River and the Obudu highlands all get patchy, sometimes dropping out entirely. Boat travel in the delta should be assumed offline.

Two other things are worth knowing. Power supply affects towers as well as your hotel, so a signal that was fine yesterday can be weaker today for reasons unconnected to your phone. And inside large concrete buildings, basement car parks and older hotels, indoor coverage can be poor even in the middle of a well-served city.

What you'll actually use data for here

Ride-hailing and navigation, above everything else. Lagos traffic makes journey timing a live problem, and apps are how you deal with it. Addresses are frequently descriptive rather than precise, so shared location pins do a lot of the work that street numbers do elsewhere.

Messaging is the second pillar. WhatsApp is the default channel for hotels, drivers, guides, tour operators and business contacts, and voice notes are normal. Expect plans to be adjusted by message on the day rather than fixed in advance.

Beyond that: banking and payment apps, which are widely used and assume you are online; food and grocery delivery in the big cities; checking flight status for domestic hops, which move often enough to be worth watching; and looking up which route is currently sensible before you set off, since a road that worked this morning may not this evening.

Before you fly

Install the profile at home and confirm it activates, then keep the line off until you arrive.

Install and sign in to a ride-hailing app before you travel, so it is ready to use rather than downloading in the arrivals hall.

Download offline maps for the cities you are visiting and any route you plan to drive. It is the fallback for congested networks as much as for empty ones.

Save every hotel, driver and contact into your phone and screenshot booking confirmations so they open without a connection.

Carry a power bank, and a good one. Long days in traffic, heavy app use and unreliable charging opportunities all pull in the same direction.

Leave your home line active for calls and texts with its data switched off, and let the travel line handle everything else.

Unlimited runs at full speed up to a fair-use limit, then continues slower.

Before you buy

Important to know

This is a data-only eSIM. It carries no calls or SMS on its own number.
Your existing number stays on your primary SIM, so calls and verification texts keep working.
Your phone must support eSIM, and some carrier-locked phones cannot install one.
Signal varies with location, terrain, congestion and your handset. Dense urban areas are consistently better served than remote ones.
The eSIM selects a host network automatically. You cannot pick or switch between them.
Unlimited plans run at full speed up to a fair-use limit, then continue at a reduced speed. Read the fair usage policy

Looking for more information?

Frequently asked questions

Does an eSIM work in Nigeria?

Yes. Your Nigeria eSIM connects automatically the moment you arrive, with no roaming fees and nothing to set up at the airport. The host networks it can use are Glo. Coverage runs on 4G LTE. There is no 5G on our host network in Nigeria yet.

Do I get 5G in Nigeria?

No. Glo do not yet offer 5G to visitors in Nigeria, so your eSIM connects over 4G LTE or slower. Anyone claiming 5G for this destination is quoting a spec sheet, not the network you will actually get.

Is there 5G in Nigeria?

Yes, mainly from MTN and Airtel, in big cities such as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Glo, the network your eSIM uses, hasn't launched 5G, so you'll be on its 4G/LTE network. That is quick enough for ride-hailing, maps, WhatsApp calls and banking apps in the cities.

Is Uber safe in Lagos?

The US State Department considers app-based rides such as Uber and Bolt safer than ordinary taxis, because drivers are registered and journeys are tracked. Check the car and driver match the app before getting in, and share your trip with a contact. Avoid okadas and unlicensed taxis, which are linked to 'one-chance' robberies.

How much cash can I withdraw from ATMs in Nigeria?

Not much. The US State Department reports ATM limits of around 20,000 naira per transaction and 100,000 naira per day, and some machines give less. Few businesses accept foreign cards, and some add a surcharge, so bring foreign currency to exchange and plan how you'll pay for hotels and transport before you arrive.

Which parts of Nigeria should travellers avoid?

The US State Department lists many states as Do Not Travel, including Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau and the Niger Delta states of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers outside Port Harcourt. Check the latest advice from your government before booking, as the list changes and travel insurance may not cover those areas.

How much data do I need for 7 days in Nigeria?

For 7 days in Nigeria, Viasimo sells 100 MB for $1.29, 500 MB for $3.79, 1 GB for $5.99, and unlimited data for $47.99. Our sizing recommendation, not a measurement: maps, messaging and the occasional lookup, about 1 GB a week; maps, social, photos and some browsing, about 3 to 7 GB a week. The data calculator on this site works it out from how you actually use your phone.

Installing, keeping your number, topping up and hotspot work the same everywhere: see how it works →

Know before you go

Nigeria: what to know before you land

Your eSIM in Nigeria uses Glo, one of the four big GSM networks, on 4G/LTE. Nigeria does have 5G, mainly from MTN and Airtel, but not on Glo, so you won't be on it. What matters more on arrival is a working ride-hailing app, because the US State Department rates registered app rides as safer than street taxis, and ATM withdrawal caps mean you can't rely on cash machines.

Emergency: 112 police and ambulance
119 road accidents
Plugs: G 230V
Currency: Nigerian naira (NGN)

Main airports

LOS Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Lagos)
ABV Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (Abuja)

Apps worth having UberBoltWhatsAppGoogle MapsTruecaller

Glo, MTN, Airtel and 9mobile: who has 5G in Nigeria

Nigeria's mobile market is built around four GSM operators: MTN, Airtel, Glo (Globacom) and 9mobile. The regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), held the country's first 5G spectrum auction in 2021, awarding licences to MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications.

MTN and Airtel run the main 5G networks (Mafab has a smaller one), concentrated in big cities such as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Glo has not launched 5G, so your eSIM runs on Glo's 4G/LTE network, with older technology in some rural areas.

In practice that makes little difference in Lagos or Abuja, where 4G handles maps, ride-hailing, WhatsApp calls and banking apps. If a colleague's MTN phone has signal in a building or village where yours doesn't, that is because the eSIM uses Glo only and won't switch to another operator.

Nigeria has also tightened rules on local SIM cards over the years, starting with mandatory registration in 2011. Buying a Nigerian SIM as a visitor means paperwork at an operator shop. A pre-installed eSIM avoids that.

Ride-hailing from Murtala Muhammed (LOS) and Nnamdi Azikiwe (ABV)

The US State Department rates Nigeria Level 3: Reconsider travel, and transport is one of its main concerns. It advises against public buses and motorbike taxis (okadas), which often ride against traffic or on pavements and without lights after dark.

It describes app-based ride-hailing as safer than ordinary taxis, because drivers are registered and traceable, and the apps offer GPS tracking, driver checks and ride sharing with a contact. Unlicensed taxis are linked to so-called one-chance robberies, where passengers are robbed by the driver or fake passengers.

When you land at Murtala Muhammed International (LOS) in Lagos or Nnamdi Azikiwe International (ABV) in Abuja:

Switch on the eSIM before you leave the terminal.
Book through an app such as Uber or Bolt, and check the plate and driver's photo before you get in.
Use the app's share-trip feature to send your route to someone you trust.
If your hotel offers a pickup, confirm the driver's name and number by WhatsApp in advance.

To report a road accident, call 119. For police or an ambulance, call 112.

Naira, ATM limits and paying by bank transfer

Nigeria's currency is the naira (NGN), and the State Department warns that few businesses accept foreign credit cards, with some adding a large surcharge. Plan to pay much of your trip in cash.

ATMs are less helpful than you'd expect. The State Department reports withdrawal limits of about 20,000 naira per transaction and 100,000 naira per day, and some machines give out less. That doesn't go far, so bring foreign currency to change and check with your hotel about the best way to pay.

Nigerians themselves increasingly pay by instant bank transfer and banking apps, but those need a Nigerian bank account. Your eSIM's data keeps you in touch with your own bank's app for alerts and card controls while you're there.

Scams are common. The State Department warns of fraud by people met online, people claiming the authorities want a payment, and people posing as stranded foreigners or US military personnel. Don't send money to anyone who contacts you out of the blue, however convincing they seem.

Drones and satellite phones are illegal or need prior approval, so check the rules before packing either.

Researched October 2026 · 4 sources

travel.state.gov Nigeria International Travel Information (US State Department)
en.wikipedia.org Telecommunications in Nigeria (Wikipedia)
worldstandards.eu Plug, socket and voltage by country (World Standards)
en.wikipedia.org List of emergency telephone numbers (Wikipedia)

7-day itinerary

Seven days in south-west Nigeria: Lagos, Badagry, Abeokuta, Ibadan and the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove

A week in Yoruba south-west Nigeria with a hotel-arranged driver: three days in and around Lagos for art, history and the coast at Badagry, then inland to Olumo Rock, Ibadan and the UNESCO-listed sacred grove at Osogbo, avoiding the areas the FCDO restricts, including Abuja.

Length: 7 days
Bases: 4

When to go November to February is the dry season, with less rain and better roads, though the dusty Harmattan wind can haze the sky; August is the month of the Osun-Osogbo festival, which draws large crowds to the grove.

Day 1 Lagos

Lagos Island: museum, Freedom Park and the old centre

From Murtala Muhammed International (LOS), use a driver arranged by your hotel; the FCDO notes taxis and ride-hailing can carry a kidnap risk.

Start at the National Museum in Onikan, whose collections include Benin bronzes, Nok terracottas and Yoruba carvings. Walk to Tafawa Balewa Square, where Nigeria's independence was celebrated, then visit Freedom Park, a former colonial prison turned into a cultural space and garden. Late afternoon, cross to Victoria Island and Lekki, planning your route around Lagos traffic.

Signal Glo 4G is reliable on Lagos Island, Victoria Island and Lekki; there is no 5G on Glo, but 4G is enough for maps and calls.
Day 2 Lagos

Lekki Conservation Centre and Nike Art Gallery

Go early to the Lekki Conservation Centre to walk the boardwalks through mangrove and wetland, and cross the long canopy walkway above the trees, looking for monkeys and birds. Afterwards, visit the Nike Art Gallery in Lekki, a multi-storey house packed with Nigerian paintings, textiles and sculpture. Spend the late afternoon at one of the art galleries or markets on Victoria Island.

Signal 4G holds across Lekki; inside the wetland reserve coverage stays usable, though it can weaken under the tree canopy.
Day 3 Lagos

Badagry and the slave route

About 2 hours each way by road from central Lagos, depending on traffic.

Drive west to Badagry, an old lagoon port where enslaved Africans were shipped across the Atlantic. Visit the slave relics museums and the Seriki Abass slave barracoon, then cross the lagoon with a local guide to walk the route to the Point of No Return on the beach. See the site of the first storey building in Nigeria, built by missionaries. Return to Lagos before dark.

Signal 4G in Badagry town; on the short lagoon crossing and the sandy path to the beach, signal is patchy, and near the Benin border your phone may pick up a Beninese network.
Day 4 Abeokuta

Abeokuta and Olumo Rock

About 2 hours by road from Lagos.

Drive north to Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State. Climb Olumo Rock, the granite outcrop that sheltered the Egba people during 19th-century wars, using the steps or the lift, and look out over the city's tin roofs. Visit the shrines and caves on the rock with a guide. In the afternoon, browse the Itoku market for adire, the indigo-dyed cloth for which Abeokuta is known.

Signal Glo 4G covers Abeokuta town and Olumo Rock; the Lagos to Abeokuta road has occasional weak spots.
Day 5 Ibadan

Ibadan

About 1 hour 30 minutes by road from Abeokuta.

Drive to Ibadan, one of West Africa's largest cities. Climb to Bower's Tower on Oke Are hill for a view over the sprawling rust-coloured roofs. Visit the University of Ibadan campus, Nigeria's oldest, and its zoological garden, or walk the forest trails at the IITA research campus, which welcome visitors. Visit the Cocoa House, one of the first skyscrapers in West Africa.

Signal 4G across central Ibadan and the university; the IITA forest is close to the city and usually has coverage near the entrance.
Day 6 Osogbo

Osogbo and the Osun Sacred Grove

About 2 hours by road from Ibadan.

Drive to Osogbo and spend the morning in the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: dense forest along the Osun river, dotted with shrines and sculptures created by the artist Susanne Wenger and the New Sacred Art movement. Go with a local guide and follow the rules on photography. In the afternoon, visit one of Osogbo's art workshops, known for batik and painting.

Signal Glo 4G in Osogbo town; inside the grove the forest cover weakens the signal to a bar or two.
Day 7 Lagos

Back to Lagos

About 4 to 5 hours by road from Osogbo to Lagos, more in heavy traffic.

Drive back to Lagos via the Lagos to Ibadan expressway, leaving early to arrive in daylight and avoid the worst traffic. If time allows before your flight, browse the Lekki Arts and Crafts Market for carvings, beads and fabrics, or walk across the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge in the late afternoon for views over the lagoon. Allow generous time for the airport run, as Lagos traffic is unpredictable.

Signal 4G on most of the expressway and throughout Lagos; keep the phone charged for the airport drive.

Staying connected on this route

Share your live location with someone you trust on every intercity drive, and travel only in daylight.
Your eSIM uses Glo only and has no 5G; if a colleague on MTN or Airtel has signal where you do not, that is why.
Mobile networks have been suspended at short notice in Nigeria, so keep key documents and contacts offline.
Do not route through Abuja or the other states the FCDO advises against travel to without checking the latest map.

Itinerary sources · 4

gov.uk Nigeria travel advice (GOV.UK)
gov.uk Nigeria safety and security (GOV.UK)
whc.unesco.org Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove (UNESCO)
travel.state.gov Nigeria International Travel Information (US State Department)

Where this comes from

Information and verification

Each block below says what was checked and when. Anything we cannot date, we do not claim.

Prices and plans: Every price and allowance on this page is read from the live catalog, not typed in.; Verified October 30, 2026
Host networks: The operator list comes from the network partner that carries this eSIM.; Verified October 30, 2026