When to go · Nigeria

Nigeria, month by month

The best months for Nigeria: Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec. Months to avoid: Jun.

Plan around it

Month by month

JanuaryGreatDry; Harmattan haze in Abuja and the north. Lagos winds down from December.Lagos and the south-west coast: best weather · South-east and Cross River: best weather · Middle Belt: smoke hazeCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
FebruaryGreatDry and hot; good for Lagos, Calabar and Abuja.Lagos and the south-west coast: best weather · South-east and Cross River: best weather · Middle Belt: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
MarchMixedHot and humid; storms begin late in the month.Lagos and the south-west coast: hot · South-east and Cross River: fine · Middle Belt: hotCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
AprilMixedRains arrive in the south; Easter travel peaks.Lagos and the south-west coast: rainy · South-east and Cross River: rainy · Middle Belt: hotCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
MayMixedRain builds; Lagos traffic worse on flooded roads.Lagos and the south-west coast: rainy · South-east and Cross River: rainy · Middle Belt: rainyCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
JuneAvoidHeaviest rain in Lagos; Democracy Day on 12 June.Lagos and the south-west coast: storm or typhoon risk · South-east and Cross River: rainy · Middle Belt: rainyCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
JulyMixedWet; the south-east is at its rainiest.Lagos and the south-west coast: rainy · South-east and Cross River: storm or typhoon risk · Middle Belt: rainyCrowds: Low
AugustMixedA drier break in Lagos; Osun-Osogbo festival in Osun State (check dates).Lagos and the south-west coast: fine · South-east and Cross River: storm or typhoon risk · Middle Belt: rainyCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
SeptemberMixedSecond rains in the south-west; New Yam festivals in the south-east.Lagos and the south-west coast: rainy · South-east and Cross River: storm or typhoon risk · Middle Belt: rainyCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
OctoberMixedRain eases late; Independence Day on 1 October.Lagos and the south-west coast: rainy · South-east and Cross River: rainy · Middle Belt: fineCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
NovemberGreatDry season starts; good conditions before the December rush.Lagos and the south-west coast: fine · South-east and Cross River: fine · Middle Belt: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
DecemberGreatDetty December in Lagos and the Calabar Carnival: book flights and hotels months ahead.Lagos and the south-west coast: best weather · South-east and Cross River: best weather · Middle Belt: smoke hazeCrowds: High · 3 festivals or holidays

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Nigeria, side by side.

First month

Second month

Verdict
Jan: Great
Feb: Great
Crowds
Jan: Medium
Feb: Medium
Prices
Jan: High
Feb: Medium
Festivals listed
Jan: 1
Feb: 1

January: Dry; Harmattan haze in Abuja and the north. Lagos winds down from December.

February: Dry and hot; good for Lagos, Calabar and Abuja.

Nigeria: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

Weather by region

How each climate zone rates each month.

Weather rating by region and month
Region	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Lagos and the south-west coastLagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan	Best	Best	Hot	Wet	Wet	Storm	Wet	OK	Wet	Wet	OK	Best
South-east and Cross RiverCalabar, Obudu, Port Harcourt	Best	Best	OK	Wet	Wet	Wet	Storm	Storm	Storm	Wet	OK	Best
Middle BeltAbuja, Jos	Haze	Best	Hot	Hot	Wet	Wet	Wet	Wet	Wet	OK	Best	Haze
Sahel northKano, Sokoto, Maiduguri	Haze	Haze	Hot	Hot	Hot	Wet	Wet	Wet	OK	OK	Best	Haze