How to Call Nigeria from the US: Complete 2026 Guide

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and home to a large and growing diaspora in the United States. Whether you are keeping in touch with family in Lagos, coordinating business in Abuja, or reaching a contact in Port Harcourt, understanding the correct dialing format is essential. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to call Nigeria from the US, including the country code, mobile number formats, time zone considerations, and the cheapest ways to stay connected.

Quick Reference: Dialing Nigeria from the US

The basic dialing format for calling Nigeria from the United States is:

From a landline: 011 + 234 + number (without leading 0)

From a mobile phone: +234 + number (without leading 0)

Example (landline in Lagos): 011 234 1 234 5678 or +234 1 234 5678

Example (mobile): 011 234 803 123 4567 or +234 803 123 4567

Nigerian phone numbers use the country code 234. When dialing from the US, you must drop the leading 0 that Nigerians use domestically. Most calls to Nigeria are to mobile numbers, as landline infrastructure is limited.

Step-by-Step Dialing Instructions

How to call a landline in Nigeria

Dial the exit code: Enter 011 from a US landline, or use the + symbol on your mobile phone.
Enter the country code: Dial 234 for Nigeria.
Enter the area code without the leading 0: For example, 1 for Lagos (not 01), 9 for Abuja (not 09).
Enter the local number: Dial the remaining digits.

A complete call to a landline in Lagos would look like: 011 234 1 XXX XXXX or +234 1 XXX XXXX.

How to call a mobile phone in Nigeria

Nigerian mobile numbers start with prefixes like 070, 080, 081, or 090 when dialed locally. When calling from the US, you drop the leading 0.

Dial 011 (or use +).
Dial 234.
Dial the mobile number without the leading 0 (e.g., 803 123 4567 instead of 0803 123 4567).

Example: +234 803 123 4567

Using the + symbol

On any smartphone, hold the "0" key or tap + directly. This replaces the 011 exit code and works from any country. For more details on international dialing, see our complete international calling guide.

Nigeria Area Codes and Major Cities

City	Area Code	Example Number
Lagos	1	+234 1 XXX XXXX
Abuja	9	+234 9 XXX XXXX
Port Harcourt	84	+234 84 XXX XXXX

Landline usage in Nigeria is extremely limited. The overwhelming majority of calls you place to Nigeria will be to mobile numbers. The most common mobile prefixes (after dropping the 0) are 803, 806, 813, 816, 703, 706, 810, 903, and 906, among others.

Best Time to Call Nigeria from the US

Nigeria operates on West Africa Time (WAT), which is UTC+1. There is no daylight saving time in Nigeria.

WAT is 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Time and 9 hours ahead of US Pacific Time.
If it is 10:00 AM in New York, it is 4:00 PM in Nigeria.
If it is 9:00 AM in Los Angeles, it is 6:00 PM in Nigeria.

For personal calls, try calling between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM Eastern Time, which corresponds to 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM in Nigeria — a window when most people are available after work or winding down for the evening. For business calls, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM Eastern Time aligns with afternoon business hours in Nigeria.

The 6-hour difference from the US East Coast is manageable and provides a reasonable overlap window for both personal and professional calls.

How Much Does It Cost to Call Nigeria?

Service Type	Provider	Rate to Landline (Per Min)	Rate to Mobile (Per Min)
Traditional Carrier	AT&T / Verizon	$1.50 - $3.50+	$1.50 - $3.50+
VoIP App	Google Voice	~$0.05	~$0.10
Discount VoIP	BoraPhone	~$0.02 per minute	~$0.04 per minute

Nigeria is one of the more expensive African destinations when calling through traditional carriers. Switching to a VoIP service can cut your costs by 90% or more. If you call Nigeria regularly, the savings add up significantly over time. For a detailed comparison, check our international calling rates page.

Editor's Tip: For the best balance of quality and price without downloading any software, we recommend using BoraPhone to make international calls from your browser.

Tips for Calling Nigeria

Always drop the leading 0. Nigerian numbers written locally start with 0 (e.g., 0803 123 4567). When calling from the US, replace the 0 with the country code: +234 803 123 4567.
Expect to call mobile numbers. Landline usage in Nigeria is very limited. The vast majority of Nigerians use mobile phones as their primary communication device, so most of your calls will be to mobile numbers.
Use WhatsApp for free calls. WhatsApp is the dominant messaging and calling app in Nigeria. If your contact uses it, you can make free voice and video calls over Wi-Fi or data. Learn more about free international calls.
Be patient with call quality. Network congestion can occasionally affect call quality in Nigeria, particularly during peak hours. If you experience poor quality, try calling during off-peak times (early morning or late evening Nigerian time) or use a VoIP service for more consistent connections.

FAQ

Do I need to dial an area code for Nigerian mobile numbers?

No. Nigerian mobile numbers do not use area codes. Simply dial +234 followed by the 10-digit mobile number (without the leading 0). Area codes are only used for the limited number of active landlines in the country.

Why do Nigerian mobile numbers have different prefixes?

The different prefixes (070, 080, 081, 090) correspond to different mobile network operators. For example, 0803 and 0806 are typically MTN numbers, while 0809 and 0818 are Etisalat (now 9mobile). As a caller from the US, you do not need to worry about which network your contact uses — just dial the number as given.

What is the cheapest way to call Nigeria from the US?

VoIP services offer the lowest rates, typically a few cents per minute. BoraPhone lets you call Nigerian mobiles and landlines directly from your browser at competitive rates. For completely free calls, use WhatsApp if both you and the recipient have the app installed and an internet connection.

Ready to call Nigeria without the high fees? Try BoraPhone today for crystal-clear international calls directly from your browser — no downloads required.