Money at Abuja–Nnamdi Azikiwe International (ABV)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Abuja, Nigeria.
Abuja uses the NGN (₦). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly NGN 25,000–NGN 45,000. Cash preferred; small NGN notes essential.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Abuja–Nnamdi Azikiwe International (ABV)?
Nigeria uses the NGN (₦). Airport ATMs dispense NGN directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from ABV to the city cost?
Expected fare on the ABV → Wuse route is roughly NGN 25,000–NGN 45,000. Around NGN 80,000+ is already high, and NGN 150,000+ unauthorized is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at ABV?
Not expected. Drivers in Nigeria don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at ABV?
Cash preferred; small NGN notes essential. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of NGN notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at ABV?
Only if you need $10–20 of NGN to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
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