Finding love in Nigeria, from Lagos to Abuja

Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt: a country of megacities

Lagos, the leading economic metropolis, Abuja, the federal capital, Kano in the north, and Ibadan and Port Harcourt in the south are among the cities listed by Nigerian platforms. English serves as the common language, alongside Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo, depending on the region.

A highly connected population according to DataReportal

DataReportal's Digital 2026 report counts 109 million Nigerian internet users at the end of 2025, a penetration rate of 45.5%, and 47.8 million social media user identities in October 2025, or 20% of the population.

Marriage at 18 minimum under the Marriage Act

According to the World Bank (WBL 2026, data for Lagos), the legal age of marriage is 18 for both sexes, with no parental exception recorded (Marriage Act, sec. 18). A marriage below this age is void or voidable, but the law is rarely enforced.

Marrying a foreigner: a special licence required

The British government states, on its Living in Nigeria page updated in December 2025, that a non-Nigerian must obtain a special marriage licence to marry in Nigeria. The details are on dating between men and women in Nigeria.

HIV test before the wedding: recommended, not compulsory

The US Department of State (25 June 2026) indicates that a premarital HIV test is not imposed by Nigerian law, but is recommended by the government. Some religious organisations may require it before the ceremony they celebrate.

Equal divorce under the Matrimonial Causes Act

According to WBL 2024, a Nigerian woman can obtain a divorce just as a man can (Matrimonial Causes Act, sec. 15) and remarry with the same rights (sec. 33). Legal aid from the Legal Aid Council covers family disputes. See divorce and a new life in Nigeria.

AfricanLove, TrulyAfrican, NaijaCupid: what we checked

AfricanLove, part of the World Singles network, lists Nigeria among its countries. TrulyAfrican claims nearly two million members, a self-reported figure. NaijaCupid, based in Lagos, also describes itself as a "hookup" and "sugar" relationship site: it is not suited to serious dating.

Romance scams: Washington's warning

The Department of State writes that internet financial and romance scams are common in Nigeria and urges caution towards anyone who asks for money after a romance that began online. The FCDO also reports fraudsters operating in West Africa.

Dating apps and assaults

Washington adds that criminals use dating apps to target victims of robbery, kidnapping or assault. A first Nigerian date should therefore be set in a public place, during the day, with your own transport and someone close kept informed.

Same-sex relations heavily repressed

According to the FCDO (28 September 2026), sexual relations between people of the same sex carry up to 14 years in prison, and some northern states under Sharia may impose the death penalty. Read gay and lesbian dating in Nigeria.

Retirement and dating after 50

The SSA indicates (2019 data) that an old-age pension can be drawn from 50 in Nigeria, through individual accounts managed by private administrators. Older readers will find our advice on older singles and retirees in Nigeria.

The Nigerian diaspora and neighbouring countries

Some Nigerian singles live in the United Kingdom, the United States or elsewhere in Europe. AfricanLove says it targets African singles in these countries, including Germany and France. For the Sahelian neighbour, see the guide dating in Niger.

Verified platforms and bodies for Nigeria

• AfricanLove (World Singles): Site free to join that lists Nigeria among its countries and also targets the diaspora in Europe and the United States.
• TrulyAfrican (Rometic): Site from the publisher Rometic that says it is popular in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya; membership figures are self-reported.
• NaijaCupid (LonerTech, Lagos): Free Nigerian site restricted to over-18s, but also presented as a hookup and sugar relationship site.
• Legal Aid Council of Nigeria: Legal aid body available for family disputes, according to the World Bank in 2024.
• National Pension Commission (PenCom): Regulator of the private pension fund administrators that manage individual retirement accounts.
• Département d'État américain, fiche Nigeria: Up-to-date information on romance scams, dating apps and Nigerian laws.

Six habits for dating safely in Nigeria

1. Choose a platform geared towards serious relationships and restricted to over-18s.
2. Describe honestly your Nigerian city or diaspora country, your religion and your plans.
3. Confirm the other person's identity by video call before exchanging personal information.
4. Arrange to meet in a public place in Lagos, Abuja or elsewhere, during the day, with your own transport.
5. Refuse any request for money, even when presented as a loan or a family emergency.
6. For a marriage to a foreigner, find out early about the special licence and consular documents.

Nigeria in figures and rules

Useful papers for a couple's plans in Nigeria

• Passport or national identity card
• Birth certificate
• Special marriage licence for a foreign partner
• Certificate of capacity to marry for a French citizen
• British proof of freedom to marry
• Divorce judgment or death certificate in case of a previous union

Costly mistakes in Nigeria

• Sending money to someone met online, when Washington considers romance scams common in Nigeria.
• Accepting a first date in an isolated or private place, at the risk of robbery or kidnapping as reported by the Department of State.
• Taking NaijaCupid for a serious dating site when it also presents itself as a hookup and sugar relationship site.
• Sharing intimate photos with an unverified contact, which exposes you to blackmail and sextortion.
• Believing that a marriage in Nigeria guarantees a visa for Europe or North America.

Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueRencontres.com does not arrange meetings and never asks for money: never transfer money to someone you know only online.