Work are sending me to Nigeria again. I learnt from my first trip that i should have taken local money to give to people at airport to leave me alone. Where in the UK can i get Naira? my bank doesn't

[-]

HopAlongInHongKong@reddit

Obtain US$1's and $5's and figure out how much is enough. With 21% inflation the buying power falls every week. There must be Nigerian shops who have a load of the cash for the same reason and which might sell you enough. Given the cost of holding it in cash. Your first trip should have taught you to hang onto £20 worth in case there was a next time.

Reply

[-]

vishbar@reddit

Is the 21% figure for Nigeria as a whole? That is brutal. Out of curiosity, is the 21% figure nominal inflation in Naira, or have USD prices inflated as well, if that makes sense? I had a look at the exchange rate and it is suspiciously flat, making me think a central bank peg.

Reply

[-]

HopAlongInHongKong@reddit

They embargoed actual cash limiting withdrawals from banks with the official rate at around 460 but the street rate at 750, hence bring US$. There's some sort of effort to push a worthless (or soon to be) digital currency. When this sort of thing is going on, the go to cashola to have at hand is the US greenback.

Reply

[-]

Savings_Goose9439@reddit

It's a fake exchange rate, you can see the real rate somewhere like here https://www.ngnrates.com/market/exchange-rates/pound-to-naira/black-market

Reply

[-]

Savings_Goose9439@reddit

Why would Nigerian shops in the UK have naira, nobody brings it out of Nigeria to exchange to pounds

Reply

[-]

HopAlongInHongKong@reddit

From their pocket from a visit, not uncommon.

Reply

[-]

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

I will get some USD. Thats why i was asking lol definitely learnt a lesson. As i am going for work, i am not allowed to leave the hotel except to go to the site i am working at and i have a driver take me, so dont have chance to go to a shop.

Reply

[-]

HopAlongInHongKong@reddit

There will be 50 people at the site who would run to you to trade their steadily devaluing local currency for your US $1 and $5's. Starting with the driver who'd rather have the $ as his daily tip.

Reply

[-]

treeseacar@reddit

You don't have to pay them, they are just trying it on. I just say sorry I don't have cash, if they pester then suggest they get their boss and ask for a receipt for your work expenses, usually they give up then. If you want to pay to get away, or you actually think they deserve a tip, you can use USD and just tip one dollar bills. Nigerian naira isn't available outside of Nigeria, except maybe some sketchy local exchange places.

Reply

[-]

Rawrbear89@reddit

A bit of a google suggests that Nigeria is one of a number of countries who have a closed currency which means it's not available outside of the country and usually it's illegal to take currency out of the country. It's a similar situation with the Indian Rupee and also the reason you're not seeing it with reputable places.

Reply

[-]

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

Thank you, that explains a lot. Why didn't my bank tell me that when i messaged them.

Reply

[-]

ebam123@reddit

The fact that you are having to bribe in the airport is a sign of corruption imo :-/

Reply

[-]

coachhunter2@reddit

Not a sign, it simply is corruption.

Reply

[-]

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

You dont have to there are signs everywhere saying that you should not be asked, but most of the airport staff through customs and passport control ask, and if you have nothing you queue for ages

Reply

[-]

caiaphas8@reddit

Really? Thanks for the insight

Reply

[-]

ebam123@reddit

Actually just my opinion from travelling into Lagos and going through and having to pay the bribes / beggars

Reply

[-]

DameKumquat@reddit

US dollars works well for bribery and being left alone. My dad worked in Nigeria in a rather demanding role for a few weeks - he was given $2000 the first time and $5000 the second time, to give to people causing problems. That was about 20 ago now.

Reply

[-]

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

Its just as bad now. we had to pay thousands of pounds extra to customs for "other checks" or we wouldn't have got out kit.

Reply

[-]

DameKumquat@reddit

Dad refused to go back after the second trip as the people with problems were pointing guns, and he was arrested in the airport on the way home - it was expected - he'd been booked on every flight out for the next week, but 3 days in jail on general principle was not fun.

Reply

[-]

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

I wouldn't go back if that happened to me. I've not seen a gun over there and i hope i dont when I go back. This should be my last visit

Reply

[-]

DameKumquat@reddit

Yeah, don't try to interfere in the oil industry and the people extracting loads of cash from it...

Reply

[-]

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

Nothing to do with oil, luckily enough

Reply

[-]

sandio90@reddit

You can also haggle your way, smile and say you don't have any cash.. you don't have to give them money. Source: I'm Nigerian ,living abroad almost 20 years.. If you really want to go the cash root, exchange dollars, ask for $1 notes and that will do the trick.. Normally if I'm feeling generous, I only give cash to someone that helped.. otherwise I just tell them I have no cash.. they eventually give up and move on to another target

Reply

[-]

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

Well last time i had 2 big suitcases and 2 carry-on, they didn't leave me alone, person after person kept asking, trying to grab my suitcases to help and i kept saying i have no money i am ok thank you. When got to the car that was picking me up and got in, they were shouting at me for money even though they never helped, just got in the way.

Reply

[-]

sandio90@reddit

Yea unfortunately that's standard behaviour, when they see you... You need to be firm and some will keep asking.. It happens to me a lot, even when they see I don't need help or already have a lift.. I know it's easier said than done. But as advised go with $1 notes just in case..

Reply

[-]

mingingflange@reddit

It's been a while since I've traveled to Nigeria. I guess you arrive at MMA? If so, there are a number of ATMs about, and places to exchange foreign currency. Most take international cards. But in the airport most vendors will accept US $. One thing, tell your bank you are going to Nigeria before you leave. Otherwise they might see a transaction there as suspicious and cancel your card. That happened to me recently.

Reply

[-]

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

There were so many people near the ATM i dont fancy using one. Will get some USD before i go.

Reply

[-]

LeadingCoast7267@reddit

I’m sure usd would work just as well until you can go to an exchange in Nigeria.

Reply

[-]

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

It was crazy through the airport, all officials asking for cash, worked paid for everything, so i had nothing we me. USD are easier to get than Naira lol

Reply

[-]

AutoModerator@reddit

**Update: - [Starting from 2023](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/100l56v/happy_new_year_askuk_minor_sub_update/), we have updated our [subreddit rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/about/rules/)**. Specifically; - Don't be a dick to each other - Top-level responses must contain genuine efforts to answer the question - This is a strictly no-politics subreddit Please keep /r/AskUK a great subreddit by reporting posts and comments which break our rules. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*

Reply

Work are sending me to Nigeria again. I learnt from my first trip that i should have taken local money to give to people at airport to leave me alone. Where in the UK can i get Naira? my bank doesn't

Reply to Post

30 Comments

HopAlongInHongKong@reddit

vishbar@reddit

HopAlongInHongKong@reddit

Savings_Goose9439@reddit

Savings_Goose9439@reddit

HopAlongInHongKong@reddit

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

HopAlongInHongKong@reddit

treeseacar@reddit

Rawrbear89@reddit

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

ebam123@reddit

coachhunter2@reddit

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

caiaphas8@reddit

ebam123@reddit

DameKumquat@reddit

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

DameKumquat@reddit

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

DameKumquat@reddit

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

sandio90@reddit

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

sandio90@reddit

mingingflange@reddit

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

LeadingCoast7267@reddit

Simonutd@reddit (OP)

AutoModerator@reddit