Moving to Nigeria from Senegal

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Senegal to Nigeria — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Senegal to Nigeria, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Abuja averages 91°F vs 82°F in Dakar, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Senegal to Nigeria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

SN
0.3
NG
15.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SN
20.8
NG
17.2

Senegal generally does better on safety, though Nigeria leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SN
$206
NG
$260
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

SN
1.1
NG
3.8

Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Nigeria leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SN
65.0
NG
77.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SN
0.8t
NG
0.6t

Senegal generally does better on environment, though Nigeria leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SN
4.0
NG
0.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SN
16.3%
NG
9.7%

Senegal generally does better on infrastructure, though Nigeria leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SN
2.7%
NG
3.1%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SN
$1,955
NG
$1,224

Senegal generally does better on employment & economy, though Nigeria leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

SN
68.9 yrs
NG
54.6 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SN
28.9
NG
69.8

Senegal generally does better on family life, though Nigeria leads in literacy rate.

Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Direction Generale des Impots et des Domaines (2016), Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Dakar Rain: 14.9 in/yr (379 mm)
82° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Abuja Rain: 48.1 in/yr (1221 mm)
91° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dakar Abuja
Jan–Mar 77°/64°F (25°/18°C) 97°/74°F (36°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/70°F (26°/21°C) 91°/69°F (33°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) 85°/66°F (29°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/73°F (29°/23°C) 93°/64°F (34°/18°C)
View all months
Month Dakar Abuja
Jan 77°/64°F (24.9°/17.9°C) 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C)
Feb 77°/64°F (24.8°/17.8°C) 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C)
Mar 77°/65°F (25.1°/18.3°C) 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C)
Apr 76°/66°F (24.7°/19.1°C) 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C)
May 79°/69°F (25.9°/20.6°C) 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C)
Jun 83°/74°F (28.5°/23.5°C) 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C)
Jul 86°/77°F (29.9°/25.0°C) 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C)
Aug 86°/77°F (30.2°/25.2°C) 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C)
Sep 87°/77°F (30.6°/25.0°C) 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C)
Oct 88°/77°F (30.9°/25.2°C) 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C)
Nov 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.2°C) 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C)
Dec 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C)

Data: Agence nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM) Agence nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM), Nigerian Meteorological Agency Nigerian Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Senegal and Nigeria. To live, work, or study long-term in Nigeria, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Nigeria's immigration authority.

Senegal passport

Senegal passport holder visiting Nigeria

Visa Free
Senegal passport holders can enter Nigeria without a visa.
Nigeria passport

Nigeria passport holder visiting Senegal

Visa Free
Nigeria passport holders can enter Senegal without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Nigeria?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Nigeria has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Nigeria safe for expats?

Senegal generally does better on safety, though Nigeria leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Nigeria is 15.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.3 in Senegal.

How is healthcare in Nigeria compared to Senegal?

Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Nigeria leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Nigeria, compared to 1.1 in Senegal. Nigeria scores 38 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Senegal: 50).

What's the weather like in Nigeria compared to Senegal?

The average high temperature in Abuja is 91°F, compared to 82°F in Dakar. Abuja receives around 48.1 in of rainfall per year, while Dakar gets 14.9 in.

What language do they speak in Nigeria?

The official language in Nigeria is English. In Senegal, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

SN NG
Population 18,931,966 237,527,782
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Nigerian Naira (NGN)
Languages French English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +221 +234
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 17 112