TRAVEL & SAFETY

FLIGHTS, VISAS & VACCINATIONS

FLIGHTS

All attendees for IGE and Forum are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS).

The dates for IGE and Forum are 16-22nd November so we suggest arriving into Lagos on 15th and departing on 23rd.

The dates for Forum are 19-22nd November so we suggest arriving into Lagos on 18th and departing on 23rd.

When arranging your flights, you will need to fly into/ from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS).

VISAS

All non-Nigerian attendees will require a business visa for Nigeria (for attending a conference). It is the responsibility of each attendee to ensure they have the correct visa.

The Nigerian visa system has moved online, and e-visas are now available to citizens of all NAO countries - except three, whom we are assisting separately. We therefore advise that you apply for the F4A Business Single-Entry Visa for your visit.

Step 1: Book your flights and accommodation as you will need confirmation of both when applying for the visa. If you are an IGE participant, accommodation will be booked for you at the Lagos Continental Hotel, and we’ll send you this hotel reservation letter directly.

Step 2: Make sure you have completed the IGE & Forum registration form (under ‘Book Your Place’) as we will email all registered attendees the necessary visa support documents in early September, using the email address you have provided on your profile.

Important: You must start the application process in mid-September, to ensure it remains valid during Forum.

To apply for the Nigerian business e-visa, you will need 6 documents:

You will need to provide:

A passport-size photo of yourself (must be a white background)
A digital photo of the data page of your valid passport (with at least 6 months’ validity)
A return air ticket
Hotel Confirmation Letter (‘proof of accommodation’) - we will provide this for IGE participants, or if we have made your accommodation booking on your behalf at the Lagos Continental Hotel. All Forum attendees should request this directly from the hotel they have booked.

We will provide you with:

The Inviting Nigerian Company’s CAC Certificate (Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission)
A signed letter of invitation from the Host in Nigeria

Step 3: Once you have all 6 documents ready, please apply for your e-visa through the Nigerian Immigration Service e-visa website, and pay the visa fee. You should apply for your visa in mid-September, to avoid timing issues with visa validity.

If you experience any issues or need assistance during the visa process, please reach out to us at igeforum@intaward.org.

If you encounter any problems paying for your visa:
We are aware that some people are having challenges. We are in constant communication with the National Immigration Service in Nigeria to resolve issues but here are some suggestions that will help.

The preferred browser for the application system is Mozilla Firefox. When the Nigerian Immigration Service fix a website issue, they ensure it is fixed on Firefox browser, so opt to use this if you are having problems.
If you are struggling to pay, please first check with your bank/credit card provider. Some banks automatically block payments to countries that are unusual for your spending pattern. Please ask your provider to make sure payments to Nigeria are not blocked.

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TRAVEL INSURANCE

VACCINATIONS & ANTI-MALARIAL MEDICATION

WEATHER

All attendees for IGE and Forum are required to arrange their own travel insurance prior to the event. Attendees will not be leaving Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, for the duration of the trip. Please see the sections below regarding transport and safety if your travel insurance provider requires details of the trip.

A certificate of Yellow Fever vaccination is required to enter the country. No other vaccinations are compulsory for entry.

Malaria is a risk throughout Nigeria and precautions should be taken. The overall risk during our trip is considered relatively low due to the nature of the programme and the controlled environments in which activities will be taking place.

However, we strongly encourage you to consult your local healthcare advisor or travel clinic so they can help you select the most appropriate anti-malarial medication based on your medical history, preferences, and the duration of use. Please note that you may need to begin taking the medication a few days before travel and continue for a period after your return, so do factor this into your planning. As an added precaution, we also recommend using mosquito repellent and wearing long sleeves in the evenings.

Lagos has a tropical climate, where the weather is always warm and often cloudy. November falls in the dry season so the climate should be relatively stable over the course of the event. Temperatures at this time of year are typically 28- 32°C during the day and 22-24°C at night. It’s quite humid in Lagos so make sure to bring light, breathable clothing. The hotel will be air conditioned for the conference.

SAFETY, SECURITY & TRANSPORT

SAFETY ASSURANCE

The Foundation assures all attendees that we take safety extremely seriously and that we have worked with the Nigerian NAO to conduct a thorough risk assessment of the Lagos Continental Hotel and the surrounding area of Victoria Island.

There are, of course, parts of Nigeria that most Governments warn citizens not to travel to. Victoria Island does not fall within these areas and thousands of visitors travel to Lagos safely every year. As with any major city, it is highly recommended to take precautions to keep your belongings secure and only travel to recommended areas via the pre-approved transportation methods.

Victoria Island is a safe neighbourhood and home to 5-star hotels, Embassies, International banks and businesses. The Lagos Continental Hotel regularly hosts high-level guests and events, including the US Secretary of State in 2024.

The Lagos Continental hotel is patrolled by external and internal security guards, there is a security check of all bags entering the hotel and only hotel residents or conference attendees have access to the elevators. Due to the nature of the event and the number of VIP attendees, high levels of security will also be provided by Federal, State and contractor operatives.

The surrounding streets consist mainly of hotels and apartment blocks. We recommend that, if leaving the hotel, everyone uses the transport we are providing (taxi or coach) and only visits pre-approved locations.

All external venues and schools in the programme have been visited and all transportation methods have been checked. For any excursions outside of the hotel, participants will be accompanied throughout by IAF staff, NAO staff, and trusted third parties.

TRANSPORT & AIRPORT ASSISTANCE

We will ensure that all IGE & Forum attendees are escorted throughout the trip and will travel in secure modes of transport.

Upon arrival at the airport, attendees will be met by a member of the IGE & Forum team and escorted all the way through passport and visa control, baggage claim, and safely out of the airport. You will need to keep your boarding pass with you for luggage checks as you exit the airport.

Private transport will be provided from the airport to the Lagos Continental Hotel or one of the three recommended hotels listed on the Hotel Details webpage. Return transfers from the approved hotels will also be provided on departure.

During the event, we will remain within Victoria Island and will not travel to mainland Lagos. There are a couple of excursions to visit local businesses and restaurants for which we will use secure and pre-booked taxis and minibuses.

Please ensure that you add your flight details to your Profile page so that we can organise your airport collection and transfer.