Chicago to Akure (MDW–AKR) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

US passport holders need a visa to enter Nigeria. Apply for the eVisa at portal.immigration.gov.ng. The single-entry tourist eVisa costs $160 and allows stays up to 30 days. Processing takes 5 to 10 working days. Upload a passport scan, a recent photo, a round-trip itinerary, proof of accommodation, bank statements from the last 3 months, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry with at least 2 blank pages.

Nigeria does not issue visas on arrival for US citizens. The eVisa must be approved before boarding. At Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) in Lagos or Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (ABV) in Abuja, immigration checks your eVisa approval, yellow fever certificate, and captures biometrics. The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory with no exceptions. For stays beyond 30 days, apply for an extension at the Nigeria Immigration Service. Nigeria is Africa's most populous country (about 230 million) with Lagos as its commercial capital and Abuja as the administrative capital.

Direct flights from New York JFK to Lagos run about 11 hours on Delta. Houston (IAH) to LOS runs about 12 hours on United. Washington Dulles also has connecting options through Accra or Addis Ababa. Nigeria uses the Nigerian naira (NGN), trading at roughly 1,600 NGN per $1. The official rate and parallel market rate can differ. ATMs dispense naira with withdrawal limits of NGN 20,000 to NGN 40,000 per transaction. Card payments work at hotels, malls, and larger restaurants. Bolt and Uber operate in Lagos and Abuja. Danfo (yellow minibuses) and BRT buses cover Lagos routes for NGN 200 to NGN 700 ($0.13 to $0.44). Traffic in Lagos is notoriously intense: the Third Mainland Bridge can take 30 minutes or 3 hours depending on the time of day.