Send money to Nigeria
Quick answer: Where you send from decides the cheapest option to Nigeria. Across the 4 sending routes we price, the top-ranked estimates right now are BOSS Money from United States (1,358,957 NGN for $1,000); Ria Money Transfer from United Kingdom (1,798,785 NGN for £1,000); Sendwave from Germany (1,532,118 NGN for €1,000); WorldRemit from Canada (473,769 NGN for C$500).
Latest pricing observation: . Oldest observation used: . Quotes are kept per USD→NGN pair, not per country, so check is served before you commit. Methodology.
Cheapest way to send money to Nigeria, by sending country
The top-ranked estimate on each route we price into Nigeria, from our own collected quotes. Choose your country for the full provider ranking.
USD → NGN · 13 estimates
BOSS Money: $1,000 becomes 1,358,957.43 NGN · 0.00% over mid-market · 44,438 NGN ahead of the lowest
GBP → NGN · 14 estimates
Ria Money Transfer: £1,000 becomes 1,798,784.85 NGN · 0.00% over mid-market · 48,807 NGN ahead of the lowest
EUR → NGN · 14 estimates
Sendwave: €1,000 becomes 1,532,118.49 NGN · 0.00% over mid-market · 87,269 NGN ahead of the lowest
CAD → NGN · 8 estimates
WorldRemit: C$500 becomes 473,769.25 NGN · 0.00% over mid-market · 18,262 NGN ahead of the lowest
Nigeria is sub-Saharan Africa's largest economy and its biggest remittance recipient, receiving over $20 billion annually from the large Nigerian diaspora in the US, UK, Canada, and Europe. The CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) unified the official and parallel exchange rates in 2023, narrowing the gap that had previously made provider comparison complicated. GTBank, Zenith, Access, UBA, and First Bank are the major receiving institutions.
- CBN's 2023 FX unification brought the official rate much closer to the parallel market rate, improving rate transparency for senders choosing between providers.
- GTBank (Guaranty Trust Bank), Zenith Bank, Access Bank, UBA (United Bank for Africa), and First Bank all accept inbound SWIFT transfers and have wide ATM networks.
- Western Union, Ria, and WorldRemit all support cash pickup through agent networks. MoneyGram partners with Access Bank for cash pickup delivery.
- Palmpay and OPay are Nigeria's fastest-growing fintech wallets with 25M+ users combined. Several providers support direct OPay or Palmpay delivery for instant wallet credit.
- The CBN has no cap on personal inbound remittances. NFIU (Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit) monitors large transfers for AML, but personal remittances proceed routinely.
Guides, fees & how it works
What you need to send money to Nigeria
Full name
Recipient’s name as shown in their banking records
Bank account number
Use the account number from the recipient’s bank records
Example: 0123456789
Bank name
Name of the receiving bank (e.g. GTBank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, First Bank)
Provider sources for these receiving options: Remitly UK-to-Nigeria options
Note: Nigeria doesn't use IBAN. You'll need the recipient's 10-digit bank account number (Nigeria's NUBAN format, standard since 2011) and the receiving bank's name.
How much does it cost to send money to Nigeria?
The top-ranked estimate on each sending route into Nigeria sits between 0.00% and 0.00% above the mid-market rate: tightest from United States (BOSS Money), widest from Canada (WorldRemit).
How can my recipient receive money in Nigeria?
Recipients in Nigeria typically receive this transfer via bank deposit, cash pickup or mobile wallet.
Bank deposit, cash pickup or mobile wallet
Remitly lists these options for UK senders. Confirm the recipient, payout currency and availability from your sending country.
What are the transfer limits and regulations for Nigeria?
Inbound transfer limits
Confirm the limit for your amount, payment purpose and recipient account directly with the chosen provider.
Important things to know
- Check account restrictions before paying. A price estimate does not verify recipient eligibility.
How long does it take to send money to Nigeria?
Top-ranked providers advertise instant from United States (BOSS Money), minutes to 2 days from United Kingdom (Ria Money Transfer), instant from Germany (Sendwave), 1-2 business days from Canada (WorldRemit).
Provider-stated speeds for Nigeria, not our measurement.
Popular banks in Nigeria
6 banks commonly receive international transfers in Nigeria, including GTBank (Guaranty Trust) and Access Bank. SWIFT/BIC codes are shown where we could verify them; confirm the rest with the receiving bank.
GTBank (Guaranty Trust)
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Access Bank
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Zenith Bank
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First Bank of Nigeria
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United Bank for Africa (UBA)
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Fidelity Bank
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Frequently asked questions
Common questions about sending money to Nigeria
What is the cheapest way to 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.
How long does a money transfer to Nigeria take?
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.
What bank details do I need to send money to Nigeria?
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.
Can I send money to OPay or Palmpay in Nigeria?
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.
Why do NGN exchange rates differ so much between providers?
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.
Is there a limit on how much I can send to Nigeria?
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.
