The +234 country code is the official international dialing code for Nigeria, located in West Africa. When calling a Nigerian landline or mobile phone from anywhere outside the country, you must begin the number with +234.
While the code itself is a standard designation, numbers displaying the +234 country code (often misidentified as an area code) are frequently associated with international fraud, particularly on messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. This guide provides the dialing details for Nigeria and crucial warnings to protect you from potential scams.
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Location and Time Zone of the +234 Country Code
The +234 code covers the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria.
| Detail | Information |
| Country | Federal Republic of Nigeria |
| Continent | Africa (West Africa) |
| Code Type | International Country Calling Code |
| Time Zone | West Africa Time (WAT), which is UTC+1. (This is 5 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.) |
| Capital City | Abuja (regional code 9) |
Major Nigerian City and Regional Codes
Nigeria uses an open numbering plan, where phone numbers include regional codes (for landlines) or mobile prefixes. When dialing internationally, the first digits after +234 identify the region or carrier.
| Major City | Regional Code | Full Example (Landline) |
| Lagos | 1 | +234 1 XXXX XXXX |
| Abuja (Capital) | 9 | +234 9 XXXX XXXX |
| Ibadan | 2 | +234 2 XXX XXXX |
| Port Harcourt | 84 | +234 84 XXXX XXXX |
Note: Mobile numbers use a three-digit prefix (e.g., 803 for MTN or 802 for Airtel) immediately after the +234 country code, followed by the 7-digit subscriber number. You must not dial the internal national access prefix of ‘0’ when dialing internationally.
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How to Dial a Number Using the +234 Code
To successfully place an international call to Nigeria, you must follow the correct dialing sequence for your country:
Example (Calling Nigeria from the U.S.)
- S. Exit Code: Dial 011 (to exit the U.S. network).
- Country Code: Dial 234 (for Nigeria).
- Local/Mobile Number: Dial the full number, including the regional or mobile prefix, but omitting the local leading zero.
To call a Lagos landline (local format 01 493 5678):
To call a Nigerian mobile (local format 0803 123 4567):
- Scam Warning: Calls and Messages from +234
The +234 country code has become notoriously linked to various forms of international financial fraud and online deception. While most calls from Nigeria are legitimate, any unsolicited or strange contact should be treated as a high-risk situation.
Common Scam Types Associated with +234
- Romance Scams: Scammers establish long-term online relationships (often on social media or dating apps) and quickly build trust before manufacturing an emergency (e.g., a sick child, a travel crisis, or a military fee) to request money transfers.
- Phishing/Account Takeover: You may receive unsolicited messages (especially on WhatsApp) claiming to be from a bank, company, or friend, requesting “verification codes” or personal information. Providing a code gives the scammer access to your accounts.
- Lottery/Job Scams: Messages promising large prizes or lucrative international job offers, which require an “upfront fee” for taxes, processing, or training materials.
Essential Protection Steps
- Do Not Respond to Unknown Contacts: If you do not have personal or business contacts in Nigeria, do not respond to unexpected calls, texts, or WhatsApp messages from +234 Answering verifies that your number is active.
- Verify Credibility: If a call or message claims to be from a business or government agency, hang up and call the official, published number for that entity. Never trust the number that appeared on your caller ID.
- Check Privacy Settings: On messaging apps like WhatsApp, restrict who can see your profile picture, status, and “About” information to only your contacts. Scammers often use this public information to customize their fraudulent stories.
- Block and Report: If you suspect a scam, immediately use the app’s built-in tool to Block and Report the contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the +234 code used as an area code within the U.S. or Canada?
No. The 234 digits are an official International Country Code for Nigeria. Within the U.S., there is a separate, unrelated area code (234), which is an overlay for the 330 area code in Northeast Ohio (Akron, Canton). The contexts are entirely separate; the international code for Nigeria is always represented as +234.
What time zone is Nigeria in?
Nigeria observes West Africa Time (WAT), which is UTC+1. Since Nigeria does not observe Daylight Saving Time, the time difference with the U.S. remains consistent year-round (e.g., 5 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time).
Why are scammers so often linked to the +234 country code?
Nigeria has faced significant challenges with online fraud, leading to the country code’s association with various scam schemes. While the vast majority of calls from Nigeria are legitimate, the country code is frequently cited by international authorities as a key marker for financial fraud targeting international consumers.
