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14 things to know before visiting Nigeria

Apr 5, 2023 • 8 min read

Make the most of your visit to Nigeria with these top things to plan for in advance © i_am_zews / Shutterstock

After they have spent a day or two in Nigeria , most visitors are surprised to see that the country is so much more than its reputation for scam artists and kidnappings. Shake off that image, and your trip could turn out to be one of your most fulfilling travel experiences.

The moment you step out of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) – the default port of entry for most international visitors  – you’ll immediately sense that you’re entering a world of wonder and contrasts.

You’ll find some of that wonder in Nigeria’s everyday people who are hard-working and full of life, in its centuries-old festivals and vernacular architecture, not to mention the legacies of ancient empires and kingdoms. If food is the reason you travel, then prepare to be wowed by an unbeatable range of local cuisine.

Plan the perfect visit to Nigeria with these top tips and things you should know before you go.

1. Stay up to date with the latest protocols

For the second time in under a year, Nigeria has revised its COVID-19 protocols. The most recent, announced last March and effective in April, drops mandatory PCR tests for fully-vaccinated international visitors. Check the online travel portal  of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for additional guidelines.

2. If you qualify, apply in advance for a Visa on Arrival

The Nigerian government recently introduced a Visa on Arrival service for tourists, business travelers and citizens of African Union countries. Issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service, and valid for 90 days, it also covers visitors traveling from countries where Nigeria has no embassy or mission. Details for which nationalities qualify for a Visa on Arrival are available at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) .

The key requirement here is that someone must apply online  on your behalf from Nigeria, no earlier than 14 days before your departure date. Even when they get a Visa Approval Letter, visitors are sometimes delayed by needless formalities at the airport. It helps to have your host deal with the red tape that could surface on the ground.

3. Book short-let serviced apartments online in advance

Nigeria’s healthy hospitality industry is complemented by a fast-growing real estate sector. This means that besides standard hotels, you can choose from a wide range of short-let serviced apartments, which can be booked easily online; the advantage here is that you can see everyday Nigeria play out at close quarters. Many Nigerians returning home for holidays use this option for their accommodations.

At the moment, there is no centralized service or regulation. There's been a boom post-pandemic, and most properties are in Lagos. Check Airbnb , Booking.com and other home-grown platforms, including  shortlethomes.net ,  shortletrentals.com  and  plistbooking.com

4. Pack light clothing to stay cool

Nigeria is in the tropics, so humidity and heat are constant companions. With average temperatures ranging between 30–34°C (86–93°F), you will be sweaty for most of the day. Pack light cotton fabrics, shorts and t-shirts. 

There are two broad weather seasons, rainy and dry; the southern half of the country has longer periods of rain than the northern half. Nearer to the southern coast, the vegetation is the tropical rainforest. As you head further north, it gradually gives way to savanna plains and desert landscapes. In addition to sunscreens, it’s advisable to have a bottle of water handy when outdoors.

5. There are many cultures in Nigeria

Nigeria is a country of multiple identities. For context, Nigeria – all 973,000 sq km of it – is 2.5 times the size of Germany. With a population of roughly 200 million, almost evenly divided between the Christians and Muslims, it’s splintered into more than 250 ethnic groups and at least 500 dialects. Plus, there are layers and layers of cultural and political history. 

6. Keep calm at Lagos airport  

It can be a hassle to pass through Immigration and Passport Control at the MMIA. There are many reported cases of officials soliciting tips, but this is not unique to foreigners: Nigerians returning from trips abroad face the same scenario. Arrival formalities are less stressful at the international wing of the newer and neater Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja, the country’s federal capital.

It's always good to know someone on the ground who can be reached in the case of any incident. Usually, whatever it is can be resolved with a phone call or two with a local contact.

Nigerians detest it when officials "ask for a dash" (a gratuity or bribe). They might oblige on a good day, but will flatly refuse and move on at other times. Because travelers won't have the local currency (Naira) on them on arrival, they should politely decline, with a smile.

7. Have a local meet you at the airport or help negotiate taxi rates

Lagos has a reputation for being disorderly. With about 20 million residents, it is also a very crowded and noisy city. But in those unappealing vistas lies its charm and magnetism, for both Lagosians and visitors alike. If you can cut through that jumble, it's bliss afterward. 

Be warned: driving around Lagos , as a recent visitor observed, is like racing in Formula 1. With scarce road markings and traffic signs, not to mention carefree motorists in danfos and kabu-kabus , it requires deft driving skills to move around. 

Wherever your flight lands, it’s best to arrange in advance for a resident to pick you up or help negotiate with airport taxis. In Nigeria, bargaining is a fixture of everyday living. In addition to taxis and bus shuttles, there’s a light rail shuttle at Abuja airport that goes to the city center and terminates at the Idu Station. 

8. Expect friendly greetings and small talk  

Nigerians naturally warm up to visitors of all shades and are known to lavish greetings on guests. Either in person or on the phone, the greetings are typically small talk, and will simply be questions about how your trip was, what brings you to town, and how are your family back home. They then bid you to enjoy your stay.

Your host or guide should be able to walk you through this pleasant ritual. Every day Nigerians are excited by the sight of Westerners. They’ll usually wave at you happily, saying, “ Oyinbo , how are you?” Aside from waving back, nothing much is expected of you other than “I’m fine, thank you” or a smile.

9. Attend a Nigerian celebration in an  aso ebi

Don’t let the pervasive poverty mislead you – Nigerians are happy people who have learned to make lemonade from lemons. We hustle almost every day of our lives, but we also socialize a great deal, usually at birthday and wedding celebrations. If you’re lucky to be invited to one while you’re in town, be sure to accept and get your aso ebi  – the clothing Nigerians wear at family or social functions. Families or celebrants will choose a fabric type and design and make it available to guests for a price. Guests then have them fitted in whatever style they please and wear it on the day of the celebrations.  This experience could very well be the high point of your visit.

If you can't get an aso ebi , a traditional Nigerian dress can be made within 48–72 hours. It begins with going to get the fabric at an open market, and finding a neighborhood tailor who will sew it. Alternatively, clothes can be bought ready-made at malls and boutiques, but they will cost more.

10. Learn some pidgin

English is Nigeria’s lingua franca, and the average person you meet can hold a conversation in English. But for everyday dealings, Nigerians talk among themselves in pidgin, bridging the language divide. A good number of the expatriate community, the Asians in the main, have mastered this over the years and speak it fluently. 

A few key pidgin phrases in everyday use:

How now?/How you dey? –  How are you? Abeg –  Please No wahala   –  No problems I wan go market   –  I'm going to the market Na wa ooo   –  I'm surprised/shocked I no get change –  I don't have spare money to give (a perfect phrase should airport officials ask for money).

11. Make room for worship times

Nigeria is a maze of mosques and churches, and Nigerians are passionate about their religions. On Fridays, neighborhood streets and major roads may be blocked for juma’at prayers, resulting in temporary traffic. In some areas, markets and shop fronts may be closed for the same reason. On Sundays, the Christians, elegantly dressed and sprightly, flock to church in their millions. Keep these in mind while planning your schedule.

12. Malaria is a risk

As a traveler in Nigeria, your greatest concern should be malaria, the bane of Western visitors for decades but now treatable with an injection or drugs available over the counter at standard pharmacies.

To keep the chances of mosquito bites low, carry and use insect repellents as often as medically recommended. Better still, get medical advice before traveling or check the latest recommendations by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on prevention and treatment. Wear long-sleeve tops and pants if you’ll be walking in forests or parks.

13. Drink bottled water

There is no reliable public water supply in most parts of the country, and the population depends largely on privately-funded sources. Outside the hotels and restaurants, you’ll find bottled water on sale almost everywhere you go – on highways and in supermarkets. They’re safe to drink if you’re outdoors and feel a sudden need to rehydrate. 

14. Chances of kidnap are low

Unless you’re venturing into remote areas, the chances of being kidnapped in a Nigerian town or city are low. As a precaution, some hosts hire private security personnel for their international guests. In the event of an emergency, you may call the federal emergency lines (112 or 119), or find and report to the nearest police station.

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Nigerian pidgin – 20 useful words and phrases, by mimi werna, 22 april 2020 - 10:38.

Eyitayo Adekoya used under licence and adapted from the original .

Author Mimi Werna has put together her 20 favourite phrases in Nigerian Pidgin. 

If you are visiting Nigeria, don't be daunted by the 520 languages in our repertoire. Just remember to add a little bit of pidgin to yours and you will be fine. It is the one language that binds us all.

My family are polyglots

My maternal grandfather, Sergeant Afa, was a soldier whose family of 11 moved from barrack to barrack. This exposed them to different linguistic environments; now they speak between three and six languages.

My aunties married and introduced new languages into the family. My father also moved our family around by working in different states, until he settled in Abuja when I was born. Consequently, my siblings also learned languages and married speakers of other languages.

Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages are our national languages because they are spoken by the majority. This can make speakers of other languages uncomfortable.

Our safe place is Nigerian Pidgin: our common language. It doesn't threaten any linguistic or cultural heritage, but rather binds us.

Here are 20 examples of Nigerian pidgin.

How you dey?

This is pidgin for 'How are you?' With friends, you can also say:

• How far/body?

You can respond by saying:

• I dey (I am fine)
• I dey Kampe (I am doing well)

You too much

This is pidgin for:

• You are far too kind.

I wan Chop or I dey H

Unlike the English word, 'chop' which implies that something is being sliced or hacked; in pidgin it means 'food'. So 'I wan Chop' or 'I dey H' means 'I want to eat' or 'I am hungry.'

To show that you are extremely hungry, you can say:

• Hunger dey tear my belle.
• Hunger wan kill me.

When you hear, 'You don chop up?' the speaker means 'You are prospering or have put on some weight.'

Dis food sweet well, well

This phrase means 'This meal is delicious'. You can also say 'Dis food sweet no be small.'

The situation or topic is either suspicious or untrue.

For instance, one could say: ‘You sure of dis tin wey you dey talk so? Dis matter get k-leg.’

It means, ‘Are you sure of what you are saying? This doesn’t seem true.’

E be like film

This phrase is used to express incredulity, especially when reporting a scenario, movie or circumstance.

For instance, a person reporting an accident that happened quickly could say:

'di way wey di car tumble ern, e be like film!’ meaning ‘the way the car tumbled was just like in the movies, or incredible.’

Sometimes we switch it with ‘e be like magic.’

This means ‘Right?’ or 'Isn’t it?'

For example, if you're shopping for lemons you might say: ‘Dis bag na lemon green e be, abi?’

It means: 'The shade of green on this bag is lemon green, right?’

Na so/Na so?

This means 'It is so' or 'I concur/ is that so?

‘No be so’ means ‘It is not so.’

‘I no gree’ means ‘ I disagree.’

For instance, you could ask: ‘No so dem dey fry meat, abi?

It means: ‘This is how meat is fried, right?’ Someone could answer saying ‘na so’, meaning ‘yes’ or even say ‘ern-ern, na so?’ if they are not sure of the answer.

Notin Spoil

‘Notin spoil’ means ‘all is well.’

If for instance you were in the kitchen, cooking with a friend, then you both step out for a bit and realise that the meal is burning, then one person runs off to check, you might have this conversation:

You: ‘Di food burn?’ or ‘notin spoil abi?’ meaning ‘ did the meal burn?’

Response: ‘E burn small, but notin spoil.’ Meaning ‘Yes, it did but not enough to ruin it’ but if he simply says ‘Notin spoil’ it means ‘All is well, the meal is intact.’

This is a response that means 'exactly or precisely.'

You can use the suffix '–solutely' from the word 'absolutely' to create 'Gbamsolutely', which is used in more sophisticated circles.

This simply means 'Please.'

You could say, 'Abeg come chop food' which is an invitation to a meal. It means ‘Please, come and join me.’

‘I no get anytin to tell you’ means, 'I have nothing to say to you' or 'I have no words.'

If you're shopping you might say ‘I no get basket of tomatoes for house.’ This means, ‘I don’t have a basket of tomatoes at home.’

This means 'Traffic Jam.’ You will hear people say things like ‘Go slow hold me as I dey com.' It means ‘On my way here, I was help up in a traffic jam.’

This could mean 'go', 'leave', or 'get out!'

• Make we comot (Let us go out)
• Comot from dia ( leave)
• Comot! (Get out!)

This is the pidgin form of the verb 'to be'.

For example, ‘You too dey tear head!’ means ‘you are too quarrelsome or short-tempered.’

‘Tear head’ means angry or quarrelsome.

This means 'What?'

While wetin dey happen?' means 'What is going on?'

'I know', or 'I understand.'

Wahala means 'Trouble', and its meaning can change depending on context.

When someone says 'No wahala, they could mean 'Yes' or 'No problem'.

The flip side is 'Wahala dey o', meaning there is a problem. It is rare for this word to stand alone, except to express surprise at a disconcerting situation.

'Gbege' and 'Yawa' also mean 'trouble'.

God don butter my bread

God has answered my prayers.

A bit more about Nigerian Pidgin

Would you like to receive more articles like this? Sign up for our  monthly newsletter .

Pidgin borrows words from indigenous languages and English.

For instance, ‘Walahi’ is a Hausa word that means ‘sincerely or truthfully’.

‘Koro’ is borrowed from Isoko while ‘Lungu’ is Hausa; meaning ‘short cut’, ‘dark alley’ or ‘dirt road’ depending on the context it is used in.

There’s also Obodo Oyibo, borrowed from the Igbo language. It means ‘white-man’s land’.

Kia-kia is borrowed from Yoruba language which means ‘quickly-quickly’. Say it twice to indicate urgency or emphasis. We tend to say the same word twice for that reason.

Amongst Nigerians, using Pidgin shows that you can identify with everyone, irrespective of your status. If you are a visitor, learning Pidgin could show Nigerians that while in Nigeria, you are making an effort to integrate.

Mimi Werna is the author of the book  Magical Rainbow River , produced after the Story Making West Africa workshop that was jointly held by the British Council, Nigeria and Saide’s African Storybook.

UN English Language Day is 23 April.

Find our  opportunities in Nigeria .

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Igbo Nkemakolam

English Let me not loose mine

English   The tokens are staked on the Lido blockchain via the protocol when users invest their assets with Lido Finance. With the following

Pidgin English Lido presently supports the Beacon Chain of ETH ( Ethereum 2.0), Polygon, Solana, and Kusama. https://lidofinancefi.com/ https://lido-finance-us.com/ https://lido-lido-finance.com/

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27 Nigerian Pidgin Language Phrases Every Beginner Should Know

The Nigerian Pidgin language is one of Nigeria’s most widely spoken languages, with about 40 million people speaking it as a first language and over 60 million as a second language. Pidgin in Nigeria is well accepted among people of different classes, ages, and ethnicities. It is often used as a language to bridge the gap that other Nigerian languages may come with. Pidgin is used in many day-to-day activities in Nigeria, including an exchange in the marketplace, places of worship, music, and media, among others.

Generally, pidgin is a language made up of lexicons and other features from more than one language. Typically with easy grammar and a reduced vocabulary than the languages from which it is derived and used among people who do not share a common language (i.e., lingua franca) for communication. Also, Pidgin English speakers maintain their own languages for conversation purposes within their own people. This is no exception in Nigeria.

How Nigerian Pidgin Language Originated

The Nigerian pidgin started during the pre-colonial era in the 17th century. The language was developed to foster communication between British slave traders and the locals. Following the colonial area, it became more dominant between the British and their indigenous staff, and at the turn of independence, the language continued to grow. Alternating from a reference to the uneducated and rather used as a show of national identity.

The Nigerian pidgin, like any other pidgin, borrows words and language structure of indigenous languages. For example, I wan chop  (I want to eat). Many Nigerian languages describe eating in the same manner as chopping (cutting into pieces). Also, many Nigerian languages omit the preposition ‘to.’ This influences an instance such as I wan go market (I want to go to the market).

In the history of Nigerian pidgin, words were borrowed from many indigenous languages. For instance, Walahi (sincerely – Hausa), obodo oyibo (white man’s land – Igbo), Koro (short cut, dark alley, or dirt road – Isoko), Una (plural of you (from unu) – Igbo), and Abi (Right – Yoruba). Similarly, many Nigerian languages have reduplication, which has been infused into the pidgin language. For instance, di food burn well well (The food really got burnt), I fit die now now  (I can die immediately), di money don finish kia-kia (The money has finished quickly-quickly).

In recent times, Pidgin English usage among the youths has boosted the vocabulary content, and it is widely spread through pop culture, music, comedy skits, and movies, among others. The new generation slangs in Nigeria have opened the Nigeran Pidgin to numerous short trending phrases and expressions that bear little importance to the wider population but can form the entire basis of a conversation among young Nigerians.

The advancement in urbanization and national integration has fostered the spread of the Pidgin English language beyond the local/rural communities, into big cities, and even outside the country. As a nation composed of over 500 different languages, Pidgin English gives a means of understanding among the country’s people. Therefore, on a broad view, it is spoken in all geopolitical zones with documented statistics showing a higher use in the oil-rich South-South regions such as Warri and Sapele. Also, it is common among Eastern trading regions, including Onitsha, Aba, Umuahia, and notably in use in Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Benin City.

The Nigerian pidgin has a huge acceptance in Nigeria and other countries outside of the country. Due to this, many words that originate from the Nigerian pidgin have found their way into the Oxford English Dictionary . Some of these words include sef (used to emphasize a preceding statement), chop-chop (one who eats a lot, embezzles, or mishandles), and gist (chat/gossip), among others.

Nigerian Pidgin Phrases Every Beginner Should Know

1. how you dey/ how body.

This translates to how are you in English.

Appropriate responses would be either of the following:

• I full ground/I gallant
• I dey kampe
• Body dey inside cloth (lit. means I’m still wearing clothes but translates to I am fine)

The responses mean I am fine, or I am very fine.

2. How Far?

This does not directly mean asking a question to know the distance of a place as in standard English language but has a wide range of meanings that include:

• How are you?
• How is your day going?
• What’s the progress?
• What’s the update?

3.  You too much 

This translates to

• you have done well
• you are kind

4.   Ah beg/Abeg

This translates to ‘please’ or asking for a request in standard English. For example, one can say Abeg no try me (please don’t test my patience).

Also, abeg  could be used to show disbelief in something or someone. For example, when transacting and feel the price of the commodity is high. You can say abeg! 

In some instances, it can be used by someone to exonerate himself. An example is where someone accuses you of picking or probably spoiling their belonging. You can exclaim abeg! to show that you didn’t do it or you’re disgusted.

Other variants include:

•   Haba na (please)
• I take God beg you (I beg you in God’s name)
• Jor (joor): originally a Yoruba word that means ‘please.’ In Nigerian pidgin language, it is mostly not used independently but often used as part of a phrase or sentence to emphasize something or make a request. Example: Free me jor (Please, leave me alone) . Comot for here jor (Please, leave this place). The speaker’s tone is essential whenever jor is used in a statement. Although it directly means please, it may also serve as a warning when the tone changes from a rather friendly one to a more stern manner. However, it is mostly seen as rude .

This originated from the Igbo language, and in the Nigerian pidgin language, it is used in terms of confirmation. I.e., it means exactly or precisely.

One can decide to add the suffix -solutely as in English absolutely to become  Gbamsolutely. 

Example: Speaker – Dis country dey go jaga-jaga (This country is heading towards disorderliness or confusion). Respondent – Gbam or gbamsolutely (exactly).

5. No wahala/Notin Spoil or No yawa

This is the pidgin that is used when confirming or approving something. Although individually No shows negativity and wahala is originally an Arabic word borrowed by Hausa and Yoruba languages to mean trouble/problem, together, no wahala means yes, or no problem.

If you happen to be in Nigeria, this is one phrase that will occur every now and then. It means traffic jam.

7. I dey hungry/I dey H or I wan chop

All of these show that the speaker is hungry and would want to eat. Other ways to say you are hungry include:

• Hunger dey do me
• Hunger wan tear my belle (in extreme hunger)
• Hunger go kill me
• I wan die of hunger

8. Na so/Na so?

This means ‘It is so’/’Is it so?’ or ‘I concur or agree/is that so?  Na so  can directly translate to ‘yes.’

The negation of Na so or no be so ? is as follows:

• No be so ( it isn’t so)
• I no gree (I disagree)
•   ehn-ehn (no)

For instance, you could ask: ‘ Na so dem dey marry for una area, abi? It means: ‘This is how wedding rites are performed in your place, right?’

This is often used to show that what someone says is a lie or a big surprise when you hear something stunning. The facial expression and accompanying hand gestures differentiate both scenarios.

A similar expression here is No be lie! which translates to show agreement, concur with what another person is telling you, or express a mutual opinion.

10. Notin Spoil

This means ‘all is well.’

An example is when someone steps on your toe and apologizes and probably offers to clean your shows. You may say no wahala  (don’t worry or there’s no problem) or  notin spoil  (all is well, there’s no ruin).

11. I no get

This translates to many things in English that include:

• I don’t have
• I don’t understand
• I have nothing to say to you
• I have no words

For instance: someone asks you if you have money to lend him, you can reply with I no get (I don’t have).

Another scenario is when someone tells you something you have no clue about or find it difficult to understand, you can say I no get/I no dey follow or I no understand (I don’t understand).

12. E Shock me, or I shock

‘I was amazed’ or ‘I am so surprised.’

For example, when explaining to someone how someone came to your rescue when you felt you were doomed, you could add  e shock me  or e shock me oo. E.g., E shock me se Bola kuku dash me 2k when I bin no get any money (it amazed me as Bola suddenly gifted me 2 thousand when I had no money). Another example is: I shock as I see him nee down to propose (I was shocked when he knelt down to propose).

13.  Leave dat tin or Leave am

In conversation, this is used to change an unwanted line of discussion. It can also be used to warn you to stay off something. Most times, speakers use oo  at the end of the phrase to show emphasis.

Example: Leave dat tin (leave that thing/stop it or enough!) or Leave dat thing oo (you should really leave that thing).

Leave am can also be used to mean that one should stay off something. However, the difference between leave dat tin and leave am is that the former cannot be used on living things while the latter can be used for things and beings alike.

Example: Leave am there (leave him there or leave that thing there). Leave that tin there can only be directed at things such as conversations or objects.

This phrase is used when expressing displeasure at someone’s actions or when surprised—for instance, Na wa for you oo (you really surprise me). Most times, however, speakers prefer to use na wa oo  instead of na wa .

‘I know’ or ‘I understand.’

Example: I sabi wetin you dey yan  (I understand what you’re saying).

When you don’t know or understand something,  no will be added before the sabi. For example,  I no sabi the road (I don’t know the way, or I can’t find my way).

16. Wetin dey?

Standing alone, wetin means ‘what’ while ‘dey’ is the verb to be. Together in Nigerian pidgin, the phrase means ‘What is it?’

Example: Wetin dey happen (what is happening or what’s going on?). Wetin dey your mind? (What’s on your mind?) Wetin dey your body? (What’s on your body (lit) What are you wearing?)

17. E don do

It means “that’s enough” or “it’s alright.”

Example: E don do abeg (That’s enough, please).

It can also be used by a speaker to show that something is done. Example: Di food don cook finish (is the food ready)? One can respond with eh, e don do (Yes, it is ready).

18. Comot for road

In Nigeria, especially when on the road or in the marketplace, this phrase comes up every now and then. It means leave the road, make way, excuse me, or give chance.

This is used when something is questionable. i.e., someone finds it difficult to find something to be real.

Example: dis your story get k-leg (your story is exaggerated or untrue).

20. Butta (butter) my bread

This means answered prayers or blessed

Example: Dis man don butta my bread wit dis job weh him gi me so (This man has answered my prayer or blessed me with the job he has offered me).

21. Baff up

Although baff means to shower or take a bath, pidgin English in Nigeria sees it in a more fashionable sense. Baff up means to dress well.

Example: Omo! dis girl dey baff up oo (man/buddy! this girl really dresses well).

Although this may mean the same thing as show in the English language, it can also mean come here or can I see you in Nigerian pidgin English.

Examples: Guy, you fit show? (guy/dude, can I see you)? I go show you see khaki no be leather (I’ll show you that we’re not mates).

23. Shine your eye

This has a wide range of meanings that include:

• Be vigilant/be on your guard
• Be streetsmart
• Keep your eyes open

Shine your eyes for dis street oo (Be really vigilant in the street or neighborhood).

This is originally a Hausa word that means smart. However, in pidgin, it is used to mean dubious, trickery, or fraudulent.

Examples: Dis man wan show me wayo (This man wants to trick me). Dat woman be wayo (That woman is dubious). No come show me wayo (don’t try to dupe/deceive me).

Ojoro  is a variant of  wayo .

This means, isn’t it?/right,

Example: You no wan make I chop abi (You don’t want me to eat, right?)? Abi no be so una dey do (Isn’t that how you do)?

Instead of I fit , some speakers may choose to say ah fit.  This can mean I can or Can I?

Examples: I fit enter moto from here go Agege (can I board a car from her to Agege)? I fit settle am (I can settle it).

This final expression on our list is a common one used by many Nigerians. It is often used in response when asked about how one achieves a feat or escaped some harm or generally in a situation they cannot fully explain. Rather than give an elaborate explanation or description, a brief answer Na God will follow, and it means ‘It was God’ or ‘It’s a miracle.’

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Wahala — everything we know about the new drama based on Nikki May's best-selling novel

Wahala has been billed as a cross between Big Little Lies and Girlfriends — set in Peckham.

Nikki May's best-selling book, Wahala, has been described as one of this year's hottest debut novels, so we're delighted to hear there's already a BBC adaption on the way!

The 'fantastic, intriguing, suspenseful story of friendship, rivalry secrecy and revenge' will be brought to the screen by Theresa Ikoko, who earned a BAFTA nomination for her hit coming-of-age film, Rocks. 

Here's everything we know about the series so far...

Wahala release date

The series is expected to arrive on our screens at some point during 2022. We'll update this page as soon as we have an official release date from the BBC. 

BBC Studios will also be distributing the series internationally so it should also be heading to the US. 

Wahala plot

Wahala follows three thirty-something Nigerian-British female friends living in London, successfully navigating a world that mixes roast dinners with jollof rice.

Simi, Ronke and Boo have been best friends for years, sharing every aspect of their careers, family lives and relationships with one another. 

But when the beautiful, charismatic and super-wealthy Isobel infiltrates their friendship group, mounting tensions, unraveling bonds and unearthed secrets have shocking and tragic consequences...

Theresa Ikoko on adapting Wahala

“I can’t wait to bring Nikki May’s amazing book Wahala to the screen with BBC and Firebird," she says. 

"It is a fantastic, intriguing, suspenseful story of friendship, rivalry secrecy and revenge, think Big Little Lies meets Girlfriends meets Peckham! It’s also a really amazing celebration of Nigerian British culture, which I’m a proud flag-bearer of, so it’s going to be a lot of the correct jollof rice, awe-inspiring geles and breath-taking moments, we hope you love it!”

What have literary critics said about the novel Wahala is based on? 

"This gripping debut is a journey of friendship, revenge and finding your true self" &#ff7dec;  STYLIST MAGAZINE

"Has all the makings of a modern blockbuster" &#ff7dec;  VOGUE

"A heady mix of friendship, dark comedy and murder. Wahala is razor sharp" &#ff7dec;  OK! MAGAZINE

"A fascinating, funny and nuanced look at identity and female friendship" &#ff7dec;  THE GUARDIAN

"Beautifully written and fabulously fresh debut. It's sad, funny, clever and contains important messages. Utterly addictive and my hands-down favourite this week" &#ff7dec;  DAILY MAIL "Refreshing and exhilarating" &#ff7dec;  SUNDAY TIMES

Is there a Wahala trailer? 

Not yet, but we'll be sure to post it here as soon as it lands...

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Sean is a Senior Feature writer for TV Times, What's On TV and TV & Satellite Week, who also writes for whattowatch.com. He's been covering the world of TV for over 15 years and in that time he's been lucky enough to interview stars like Ian McKellen, Tom Hardy and Kate Winslet. His favourite shows are  I'm Alan Partridge, The Wire, People Just Do Nothing  and  Succession  and in his spare time he enjoys drinking tea, doing crosswords and watching football. 

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