Paying by American Express in Nigeria?

Use Amex in Nigeria only as a backup. International hotels may accept it, but everyday travel costs won’t. ATMs across Nigeria work best with Visa/Mastercard, not Amex. Budget ₦20,000-30,000 per day depending on meals, transport, and activities, and none of it will go on Amex. Carry enough cash for taxis, markets, and smaller restaurants. Nigeria simply isn’t set up for American Express. Bring Visa as your main card.

Amex in Nigeria was a disaster. It didn’t work at ATMs, restaurants, or shops. Even in Abuja, only one international hotel accepted it. I had to rely entirely on Visa, which thankfully worked everywhere. With ATMs charging high withdrawal fees, Amex just made things harder. For a country where cash is still king, carrying Amex was pointless. It was stressful and unnecessary.

I stayed in Lagos, and my Amex worked at the hotel, but everywhere else refused. Restaurants, markets, and even supermarkets only wanted Visa/Mastercard. ATMs didn’t support Amex either. I ended up using my Mastercard debit card at GTBank and Zenith Bank ATMs. Daily expenses like meals, Uber rides, and museum entries were all handled in cash or with Visa. Amex is not practical for Nigeria travel - bring something else.

Nigeria has very limited Amex acceptance. A few international hotels in Lagos or Abuja may take it, but most restaurants, shops, and ATMs don’t. Visa and Mastercard are the standard. If you’re budgeting ₦10,000-15,000 for meals or ₦30,000 for a day trip, plan on using another card or cash. Outside major cities, Amex is virtually useless. Always carry a backup card and naira in cash for safety.