What actually accepts cards
Hotels, malls (Circle Mall, Novare Lekki, The Palms), chain restaurants (Cactus, RSVP, Nok, Shiro), supermarkets (Shoprite, SPAR, Ebeano) and larger bars all take Visa and Mastercard via POS terminals. Amex is rarely accepted anywhere. Contactless is spreading but slowly — expect to insert the chip and enter your PIN. Verify by CVV international transactions may prompt for an OTP that never arrives on your foreign SIM, so bring a card that supports 3D Secure through your bank app.
Failed transactions are common. The POS network drops, banks decline foreign cards randomly, and "network is down" is a real answer at 8pm on a Sunday. Always have a backup card from a different network, and ideally cash. If a POS says the transaction failed, wait 24 hours before assuming it did — reversals are slow and double-charges happen.
Cash, ATMs and the parallel market
ATMs at GTBank, Zenith, Access and UBA branches inside malls or petrol stations are the safest bets. Withdrawal limits per transaction are usually ₦20,000 for foreign cards, and you may pay ₦500-₦1,500 in local fees plus your home bank's international fee. Don’t use standalone ATMs on dark streets.
Bureaux de change (BDCs) in Victoria Island and Ikoyi give better USD-to-naira rates than banks or hotels — bring clean, post-2013 US notes in $100 denominations. Small or torn bills get poor rates or refused. The gap between official and parallel rates has narrowed since 2024 but still exists; ask your hotel concierge for a trusted BDC rather than changing money with a stranger at the airport. Never change money on the street.
Bon à savoir
Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay in Lekki?+
Rarely. A handful of newer POS terminals in Ikate and VI accept contactless including phone wallets, but assume no and carry the physical card.
How much cash should I carry daily?+
₦20,000-₦40,000 for a normal tourist day covers tips, danfo fares, market stalls, dash situations and a taxi if your app fails. Split it between two pockets.