As is expected all around the world, do not risk unprotected sex with strangers or even with the person you think you know. Travellers to Nigeria are also required to vaccinate themselves against yellow fever, preferably 10 days before arrival in Nigeria. As malaria is prevalent, malaria pills and mosquito nets are also recommended. Polio vaccination in Nigeria is intermittent and there is currently a high rate of infection in the north of the country.
Swan water is the safe drinking water to look for approx 80 naira for a big bottle. The cheap "pure water" sold in plastic bags is cheaper but not as "pure" as SWAN. EVA water, a brand by Coca Cola Company, is also safe.
Note that Swan water is almost out of ciruclation. It was popular back then in the nineties but has lost its market control now. It is better to go for Eva water by Coca Cola company or Nestle water by Nestle Nigeria. It is also of extreme importance not to buy water outside good-looking shops.
It is advisable to purchase bottled water from convenience stores rather than by the roadside. These upscale convenience stores usually purchase their supplies directly from the suppliers, along with soft drinks such as Coca Cola and other bottled beverage products.
education
There are lots of private and public primary elementary and secondary high schools. It is worth it to organize a trip to whatever institution of learning you are interested in as this would give you a personal perspective on what facilities are available in your school of interest. There is a nationwide, standardized common entrance exam for students wishing to go into secondary schools, after they have completed their primary schooling. To gain admission into the universities both public and private universities are in every state of the federation including the FCT, a prospective student has to sit for and successfully pass the UMEUniversities Matriculation Examination which is administered by JAMB Joint Admission and Matriculation Board. Also individual universities regularly screen prospective candidates to make sure they are up to par for university level work.
respect
If you are speaking the language, some of the languages have different ways for someone to address someone older than themselves. You do not hand things over to people, especially adults and people older than you, with your left hand. It's considered an insult.
You don't cross or jump over someone's legs if they are sitting with the legs extended out. It's considered bad luck.
Avoid shaking hands with elders and older people in non Igbo villages. It's disrespectful to do that. Can you bow down a little? Kneeling or genuflecting for women or prostrating by men especially among the Yoruba is the normal thing to do. You may not need to do it either, but just show some form of respect when greeting older people. You can get away with not doing that in big cities or urban areas, they are less traditional there.
When entering a house in the predominantly Muslim North, you have to let them know in advance that you are visiting so that the women can prepare cover themselves up. Some Islamic customs require women to cover their hair and bodies to other men and this is practiced in the North. Knock on the door and wait to be answered before going in. They will ask you to wait while the women are informed. Do not be offended by the wait.
Airports can be stressful, as the organisation is a bit confusing particularly at Port Harcourt Airport. If you are White, be prepared to keep hold of a couple of "dash" Envelopes with a couple of Niara or American dollars, Nothing big, just a small courtesy tip, as sometimes Airport security take longer searching your bags on purpose, as they know and or assume you are wealthy, hoping for a small dash in order to make your search easier.
This may not always be the case, but if a general states "Do you have an coffee or mineral to give me", this is a hint that they would appreciate some dash.
talk
Languages English official, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, Efik, Ejagham, Urhobo and Edo.
contact
The country code for Nigeria is 234.
Dialing out from Nigeria: you will need to dial +9 followed by the International Code followed by the phone digit numbers.
Dialing into Nigeria: callers use +234 followed by the phone digit numbers.There is also a company in Nigeria Elixir Communication Worldwide (http://elixirworldwide.com) that offers mobile phones for the blind and visually challenged. All the mobile operators have a roaming agreement with other mobile operators around the world.