How to Call Nigeria from the USA

Making international calls from the USA to Nigeria might appear costly or challenging. Finding a frictionless and affordable calling method is very important if you're looking to save some time and money. You can make USA to Nigeria calls from landline, cellphone or using a VoIP service.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Landline or Cellphone

1
Check your international plan. Contact your service provider and ask them about the pricing for international calls. The rates may vary depending on the provider and the connection you use (landline or mobile).
- Making international calls to landlines is typically cheaper than calling to mobile ones.
- Most providers offer special international plans, so if you intend to call Nigeria frequently, it would be wise to go for such a plan. They will probably charge a monthly fee for that. Alternatively, choose a fixed rate per minute if you are making only occasional calls.
2
Dial the exit code. The one for US is 011. It will also work, if you are calling from Canada.^{[1]XResearch source}
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3
Add the Nigeria country code. Dial 234 for that.^{[2]XResearch source}
4
Dial the phone number. Its format will depend on the type of the network you are calling to (landline or mobile).
- For landlines you will need to add the area code first. The area code typically consists of 1 or 2 digits. Then dial the phone number itself. It is usually 7 or 8 digits. Thus, your destination number will look like this: 011 234 [area code] XXX XXXX.^{[3]XResearch source}
- For mobile number you don’t need the area code. A cellphone number is 10 digits long. Thus, the destination number will look like this: 011 234 XX XXXX XXXX.^{[4]XResearch source}
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using a VoIP Service

Places like shopping malls, restaurants or hotels usually have one.
It can be either a desktop program or a mobile app. Some of the popular ones are Skype, WhatsApp and Viber. Choose the one that has the cheapest calling rates for Nigerian phone numbers. Most services, however, will allow you to make cheap calls to many countries.
3
Download the app or software you have chosen. Search for the app online and visit their official website. Avoid downloading the unofficial clients as they might contain malicious software.
- Most of the VoIP services have free app-to-app calls, so if you the person you are calling to has the same app or software installed, you will pay nothing for it.
4
Dial the phone number. Remember to always type the Nigerian country code first (234). Additionally dial the area code if you are calling to a landline phone number. Follow the instructions provided by the app or software.
- Typically many Android and iOS mobile apps can access your address book, making things easier for you as you won’t need to type in the number manually each time.
- Some of the apps also preserve the original phone number of the caller. It can be helpful if you need to call your local bank that identifies its clients by the phone number.
- If your call isn’t going through, check your Internet connection first. Then, confirm that the person you’re calling to can accept international calls or calls from an internet service.
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Tips

Find out what time is it in Nigeria at the moment, so that not to wake up the person you are calling to. Generally, Nigeria time zone is UTC+01:00. You can also search it online. Just type in “time in Nigeria”, and Google will instantly show you the local time in the top of the first search results page.
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