Send money to Nigeria

Wise, Remitly, and WorldRemit are consistently competitive for USD/GBP-to-NGN transfers. Since the CBN FX unification, rate differences between providers have reduced but still vary 2–6%. Given NGN volatility, always compare total NGN received on the day you send — not historical averages. Differences of ₦5,000–₦30,000 per $100 are still possible between best and worst providers.

Wise and Remitly typically deliver to Nigerian bank accounts within 1–3 business days. WorldRemit and Western Union can deliver same-day to major banks. OPay and Palmpay wallet deliveries (where supported) arrive within minutes. Cash pickup at Access Bank or Western Union agents is available within minutes to hours.

You need the recipient's 10-digit NUBAN (Nigeria Uniform Bank Account Number), the bank name, and the bank's SWIFT code. Key SWIFT codes: GTBank (GTBINGLA), Zenith Bank (ZEIBNGLA), Access Bank (ABNGNGLA), UBA (UNAFNGLA), First Bank (FBNINGLA). Nigeria does not use IBAN.

Direct international delivery to OPay and Palmpay wallets is available from select providers. WorldRemit and Remitly support OPay delivery on some corridors. Alternatively, sending to the recipient's GTBank or Zenith account and having them transfer to their OPay wallet via the OPay app is near-instant using NIP (NIP USSD or mobile banking). The 2-step process takes under 5 minutes.

Even after the 2023 CBN FX unification, Nigerian naira rates can vary 3–8% between providers due to different liquidity sources, timing of rate locks, and risk margins. Some providers source NGN from banks at the official NAFEX rate, while others may have direct arrangements. The gap between best and worst providers on any given day remains substantial — comparison is essential.

There is no CBN limit on inbound personal remittances to Nigeria. Individual providers have transaction limits — Wise up to $1M per transaction, Remitly up to $30,000 per day with full KYC. For amounts over $10,000, anti-money laundering reporting applies at the sender's end. Nigerian recipients may be asked by their bank for source-of-funds documentation on very large transfers.