Nigeria +234
To call Nigeria from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 234, then the local number without its leading 0. Written in full: +234 802 123 4567.
The country calling code for Nigeria is +234. A number starting +234 or 00234 is a call to or from Nigeria. From abroad: +234 802 123 4567.
To call Nigeria from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 234, then the local number without its leading 0. The +234 code identifies the country; the following digits identify the line (landline or mobile).
How to call Nigeria from abroad
011 234 802 123 456700 234 802 123 45670011 234 802 123 4567+234 802 123 4567802 123 4567 is a real-format Nigeria mobile number (example from the ITU-T numbering plan): replace it with the number you were given, without its leading 0.
Nigeria area codes
In Nigeria, landlines usually include an area code after +234 (without its leading 0). Mobiles have no area code.
Number format
02033 12 3456from abroad+234 2033 12 34560802 123 4567from abroad+234 802 123 4567Landline numbers in Nigeria have 10 digits after the country code; mobile numbers have 10 digits. The national prefix 0 is only dialled inside the country — drop it after +234.
Calling abroad from Nigeria
To call another country from Nigeria, dial the exit code 009 (or + on a mobile), then the country code, then the number. From Nigeria to the United States, for example: 009 1 201 555 0123.
A Nigeria number in international format is written +234 …. The + stands for the exit prefix (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America). Switching to international format, drop the leading 0.
Cheapest ways to call Nigeria
With internet on both ends, apps like WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call Nigeria for free. To reach a number without an app, VoIP services are usually cheaper than your operator’s international rate.
Frequently asked questions
What country has the code +234?
Nigeria has the country calling code +234.
How do I call Nigeria from the United States?
Dial 011, then 234, then the local number without its leading 0 — for example 011 802 123 4567.
What does +234 mean?
It is the international dialing code for Nigeria. The + stands for your exit code (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America).
Is +234 mobile or landline?
The +234 code identifies the country, not the line type; Nigeria landlines and mobiles share it.
A country code covers a whole nation; the full number depends on the city and operator.
Mobile network codes in Nigeria
Every mobile network is identified by a mobile country code (MCC) and a mobile network code (MNC). They appear on your phone when it roams, in SIM settings and in any network lookup. Nigeria has 6 network operators with their own infrastructure:
| Network | MCC-MNC | Technologies | Subscribers |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTNMTN (41.5%) | 621-30 | 2G · 3G · 4G · 5G | 74.0 MMay 2021 |
| AirtelBharti Airtel (20.6%) | 621-20 | 2G · 3G · 4G · 5G | 50.0 MMay 2021 |
| Glo MobileGlobacom (20.78%) | 621-50 | 2G · 3G · 4G | 49.8 MMay 2021 |
| T2LH Telecommunication (95.50%) | — | — | 12.8 MMay 2021 |
| ntelNatCom Development & Investment | 621-40 | 4G | — |
| mcomMafab Communications | 621-28 | 5G | — |
A struck-through generation has been switched off on that network. MCC-MNC: ITU-T E.212 codes as listed on Wikipedia.
Keeping a number when changing network
- Mobile number portability
- since 2013-04-22
- Porting time
- 2 day(s)
- Cost to the customer
- Free
Because numbers can be ported, the prefix of a mobile number only tells you which network first issued it, not the network it uses today.
Received a call from a Nigeria number? Check it with the phone number lookup: type of line, format and local time.
Source: Wikipedia — lists of mobile network operators, mobile network codes, 2G and 3G phase-out, mobile number portability (CC BY-SA 4.0). Subscriber counts as published by each operator or regulator at the date shown.
Phone rules in Nigeria
The rules a caller, a visitor or a new resident runs into in Nigeria, each with its source.
| ID to buy a SIM | Mandatory and NIN-based: every SIM activation must be linked to a verified National Identification Number (verified with biometrics such as facial image and fingerprints); maximum 4 SIMs per NIN on any one operator's network (NCC Business Rules, July 2025). Foreign visitors (visa under 2 years) need no NIN: the operator records the passport bio-data and visa pages, and the SIM is configured for 2 weeks, 1 month or 3 months according to visa validity (renewable). Foreigners resident 2 years or more need a NIN. 2026: the NCC began rolling out a Device Management System (central IMEI register) in September 2026; devices must be registered before sale and unregistered devices will not be allowed on Nigerian networks.ncc.gov.ng · ncc.gov.ng · ncc.gov.ng |
|---|---|
| Monthly contract | MTN postpaid: completed subscriber agreement form, valid NIN slip, passport photograph and a non-refundable N2,000 activation fee; credit-based accounts also require the BVN (bank verification number) and/or other credit-assessment information, deposit-based accounts a security deposit of at least NGN 5,000.mtn.ng |
| Calling apps | None known. No NCC restriction on WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype calls was found; OONI WhatsApp reachability tests from Nigeria between 1 June and 27 September 2026: 1,493 of 1,557 measurements OK, 0 confirmed blocks.api.ooni.io |
| Reporting scam calls | Escalate unresolved telecom complaints to the NCC toll-free line 622; stop promotional calls/SMS with the Do-Not-Disturb short code 2442 (full or partial DND). Report cyber-fraud to the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre e-reporting portal (nccc.npf.gov.ng).ncc.gov.ng · nccc.npf.gov.ng |
| Emergency numbers | 112 (police, fire, ambulance; toll-free). The National Economic Council approved 112 as the single national emergency number in 2026, and on 8 September 2026 the Federal Government ordered a roadmap for its nationwide operationalisation. GOV.UK notes there is no national ambulance service.gov.uk · fmino.gov.ng |
Checked on 28 September 2026. Rules on SIM registration and calling apps change often: confirm with the regulator or the operator.