Is Lagos safe?
Take real precautions. Robbery, phone snatching and 'one chance' taxi scams are real risks, and traffic and floods disrupt plans. Stay in the Island districts and use app rides.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 3: Reconsider travel, updated 2026-06-11.
- Homicide rate in Nigeria: 15.7 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Nigeria: 20.7 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 199 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Lagos at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Phone and bag snatching in traffic jams, armed robberies at night, 'one chance' fake-bus robberies, and fraud by new online contacts. |
| At night | Use Uber, Bolt or hotel cars door to door. Avoid walking after dark, and avoid street taxis or unmarked buses. |
| Solo women | Doable in the Island districts with care. Expect harassment; use app rides, avoid walking alone at night and be careful with new acquaintances. |
| Other risks | Flash flooding in Apr–Oct; Malaria year-round; use repellent; Dangerous driving and potholed roads |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- 'One chance': unmarked taxis or buses that rob passengers
- Online romance or business deals asking for advance fees
- Fake police or officials demanding on-the-spot payments
Take care
- Street taxis and unmarked minibuses at any hour
- Third Mainland Bridge and Lekki traffic jams: snatch thieves
- Mushin, Oshodi and Ajegunle: avoid unless with locals
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Same-sex relations are criminal under federal law; Sharia states add harsher penalties
- Cannabis and other drug offences carry long sentences
- Photographing government, military and airport sites can lead to detention
How Lagos compares in Nigeria
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Lagos | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Abuja | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Lagos safe for solo female travelers?
Doable in the Island districts with care. Expect harassment; use app rides, avoid walking alone at night and be careful with new acquaintances.
Is Lagos safe at night?
Use Uber, Bolt or hotel cars door to door. Avoid walking after dark, and avoid street taxis or unmarked buses.
What is the crime rate in Lagos?
Phone and bag snatching in traffic jams, armed robberies at night, 'one chance' fake-bus robberies, and fraud by new online contacts. Nationally, Nigeria records 15.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Lagos?
Police 199 · All emergencies 112.
More about Lagos
Going to Lagos solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Nigeria Immigration Service
- Lagos State Government
- Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.