Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, offers a dynamic mix of bustling cities, vibrant culture, and diverse landscapes – from the Lagos coastline to the highlands of Jos. Whether you’re navigating the markets of Abuja, visiting historic sites in Kano, or attending festivals in Lagos, understanding how to access cash is essential. While card usage is growing in urban centers, cash remains the dominant form of payment in most areas, especially for transport and local vendors. This guide provides essential insights on cash and ATMs in Nigeria, including withdrawal fees, transaction limits, exchange rates, and card acceptance, helping you stay financially prepared throughout your trip.
Where to find ATMs in Nigeria?
Major Nigerian cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan have widespread ATM coverage. You’ll find machines near shopping malls, fuel stations, markets, university campuses, and banks. Zenith Bank, Access Bank, GTBank, First Bank of Nigeria, and UBA operate extensive ATM networks. Most ATMs dispense Nigerian naira (NGN) and support Visa, Mastercard, and Verve cards, though international card usage may vary by machine.
Tourist Spots:
Tourist destinations like Lekki Conservation Centre, Nike Art Gallery (Lagos), and Zuma Rock (Abuja) have ATMs nearby, generally in commercial or hotel zones. However, machines in busy areas may have long queues or run out of cash – especially on weekends or during salary periods. Use ATMs at bank branches for more reliability and security.
Rural Areas:
In smaller towns and rural villages, ATM availability is limited, and power outages or network issues may render machines unusable. Many transactions in rural Nigeria are cash-based, and card terminals are uncommon. It’s strongly advised to withdraw sufficient cash in urban centers before traveling into interior regions.
Best ATMs to use in Nigeria for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Nigeria are those owned by popular banks such as:
- GT Bank,
- UBA,
- First Bank,
- Keystone Bank, and
- Sterling Bank.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Nigeria, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in NGN).
– If you ‘Accept’ – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate and you pay an extra % fee to the ATM for currency conversion also.
– If you ‘Decline’ – ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in NGN’.
If you’d like to understand more, read ATM fees abroad: Charges to use cards at foreign ATMs explained.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Nigeria?
Yes, many foreign debit and credit cards are widely accepted at ATMs in Nigeria. ATMs commonly accept Visa and Mastercards. However, some accept only Visa and some only Mastercard. Others such as CUP, JCB, Maestro American Express, Diners, Discover are accepted only at a handful of ATMs.
What are the ATM opening hours?
ATMs in Nigeria, especially in major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, are generally available 24/7. However, power outages and cash shortages can affect availability, especially in rural or densely populated areas.
What are ATMs called in Nigeria?
They are simply referred to as “ATMs” or “Cash Machines”.
Language options at ATMs
ATMs typically offer English, Nigeria’s official language. Some machines may have options in local languages like Yoruba or Hausa too.
If you don’t know the language, try using Google Translate’s camera tool, but double-check, as it may not always be a 100% accurate translation.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Nigeria?
ATMs in Nigeria dispense only Nigerian naira (NGN), the country’s national currency. Although U.S. dollars are sometimes accepted by merchants in tourist zones or hotels, there is usually no option to withdraw USD, EUR, or any other foreign currency from standard local ATMs.
ATM withdrawal limits in Nigeria?
ATMs in Nigeria have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of NGN 20,000 per transaction. Many banks have a daily withdrawal limit of NGN 150,000.
ATM Fees in Nigeria
There are some fee-free ATMs in Nigeria. Some bank ATMs do not charge any ATM Fees for foreign card holders while many others charge NGN 35 per transaction as ATM Fees. So you can use the ones with no ATM Fees here.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Nigeria. These are:
1. Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
2. Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Nigeria
Use the lower fee ATMs in the country.
Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
Consider getting fee-free cards from your home country.
Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees.
For a detailed guide, read Withdrawing cash abroad? 9 best ways to save foreign ATM fees.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Nigeria?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Nigeria. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Nigeria. Download now from the App Store or Play Store.
Download ATM Fee Saver now.
Safety at ATMs
ATM safety in Nigeria varies significantly depending on the region. In cities like Lagos and Abuja, there is a risk of theft, card skimming, and scams near ATMs. It is strongly advised to use machines located within bank premises during daylight hours and to avoid standalone or street-facing ATMs. Be cautious of strangers offering help, and always inspect the machine for suspicious devices. Cover your PIN, limit the amount of cash you withdraw, and keep an eye on your account for unauthorized activity.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Nigeria takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs in Nigeria?
Yes, its possible. There are some fee-free ATMs in Nigeria. Some bank ATMs do not charge any ATM Fees for foreign card holders while many others charge NGN 35 per transaction as ATM Fees. So you can use the ones with no ATM Fees here.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted at ATMs in Nigeria?
Yes. ATMs in major cities in Nigeria and international hotel chains accept many types of international cards.
Bitcoin ATMs?
Yes – Nigeria has two operational Bitcoin ATMs, both located in Lagos (one in Ajah at Dazey Lounge & Bar, another in Ikeja at CI Crypto Solutions). These machines are typically accessible to the public and support major cryptocurrencies.
Foreign bank ATMs’ presence in Nigeria
- Bank of America: No, Bank of America does not operate ATMs here.
- Citibank: Yes, Citibank has branches in major cities like Lagos and Abuja – but public standalone ATMs are limited to branches.
- Barclays: No, Barclays does not operate retail ATMs in Nigeria.
- HSBC: No, HSBC does not maintain ATMs for general consumer use here.
- Standard Chartered: Yes, Standard Chartered runs ATMs via its Nigerian branches.
