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Nigeria +234

International code · Africa

How to dial

Calling from abroad +234 803 123 4567

Dial +234, then the local number. Drop the leading trunk prefix 0. Generate the full number →

Calling a mobile locally 0803 123 4567

For domestic long distance dial 0 first, then the area code. Local calls: dial directly. Mobiles are dialled with the leading 0 as well.

Mobile length
10 digits
Mobile prefixes
XXX XXX XXXX
International format
+234 XXX XXX XXXX
Domestic trunk
0

Sign-up availability

What to expect when signing up for these services with a physical SIM from this country:

ChatGPT Works
Claude Works
WhatsApp Works
Telegram Works
LINE Works
WeChat Works
X Works
TikTok Works
Gemini Works

Applies to every platform: VoIP / virtual numbers and heavily-reused number pools get rejected. Physical SIM only.

Checked 2026-09-12. Platform region policies and number-range allocations change — always confirm against each platform’s official supported-regions list and the carrier’s notices.
2 sources
www.anthropic.com/supported-countriessupport.google.com/gemini?p=gemini_web_availability

How to read a number

+2348031234567

+234Country code
Nigeria.
803Prefix
The national part of a Nigerian mobile number is 10 digits, and the first three are the prefix (NCC’s allocation table writes them with the 0, as in 0803). 803 is an MTN prefix — but Nigeria allows porting, so this only shows who originally issued the number. Written nationally as 0803…; that leading 0 is the trunk prefix and is dropped when dialling from abroad.
1234567Remaining 7 digits
The subscriber number.

Written nationally as 0803 123 4567. Also note that NCC lists Nigeria’s international access code as 009, not the 00 used in many countries.

This section checked 2026-09-19.
2 sources
ncc.gov.ng/operators/mobile-number-allocation-tablencc.gov.ng/operators/dialing-procedure

Number ranges & quality

RangeTypeNotes
07xx / 08xx / 09xx (11 digits) Mobile carrier Nigerian mobile ranges (MTN / Airtel / Glo / 9mobile).
Intl SMSStable
Virtual-number riskMedium
ID requiredReal-name registration with a NIN is required.

Physical SIMs can sign up without issues.

Carriers & prefixes

Mobile prefixes by carrier.

Number portability applies — a prefix only shows the original carrier.

Porting rules in full

Porting is available. According to the regulator NCC: text PORT to 3232, or take valid ID to your new operator’s store and fill in a porting form; it is free; it takes 24 to 48 hours; and you can only port once every 90 days. The key point: leftover airtime and data cannot be transferred, so use them up first, and clear any outstanding bills with your current operator. The prefixes below come from NCC’s mobile number allocation table (as at December 2023) and only show who numbers were originally assigned to. A few ranges belong to other licensees: 0801 (part) to MAFAB, 0702 (part) to Smile and 0804 to M-Tel.

Network-experience stars are derived from the awards each operator won in the Opensignal report of 2026-07 (data collected Apr 01 - Jun 29, 2026): the most-awarded operator gets 5 stars, the rest proportionally, with a shared award counting as half. They reflect network testing only — not prices or customer service. Test report →

User share comes from the NCC (the telecom regulator), as of 2026-08. It shows how widely each operator is used — not how good its signal or service is. Official data →

  • MTN Mobile carrierVeteran
    launched 2001
    User share
    Network experience★★★★★🏆 Best Network Strongest in: reliability, consistent quality, download speed, upload speed (11 in total)

    0703~0704, 0706~0707, 0803, 0806, 0810, 0813~0814, 0816, 0903, 0906, 0913, 0916

    The operator with the most prefixes.

  • Airtel Mobile carrier
    User share
    Network experience★☆☆☆☆ Strongest in: 5G availability

    0701, 0708, 0802, 0808, 0812, 0901~0902, 0904, 0907, 0911~0912

  • Glo Mobile carrier
    User share
    Network experience★☆☆☆☆ no awards this round

    0705, 0805, 0807, 0811, 0815, 0905, 0915

    Operated by Globacom.

  • T2mobile Mobile carrier
    User share
    Network experience★☆☆☆☆ no awards this round

    0809, 0817~0818, 0908~0909

    This is the former 9mobile: NCC’s allocation table still lists the licensee as EMTS (9Mobile), while its website now uses the T2mobile brand. Older guides that say 9mobile mean this operator.

This section checked 2026-09-19.
6 sources
ncc.gov.ng/operators/mobile-number-allocation-tableconsumer.ncc.gov.ng/articles/106-mobile-number-portability-key-things-to-knowncc.gov.ng/operators/national-numbering-plant2mobile.com.ng9mobile.com.ng/about/corporate-profilewww.mtn.ng/about/our-story

SIM cards & keeping a number

Nigerian SIMs are registered under NCC rules: foreigners resident two years or more need a NIN; shorter-stay foreigners use their passport bio page plus an embassy letter confirming a stay under two years. Prepaid lines unused for 6 months are deactivated and can be recycled after another 6 months (about 360 days).

MTN / Airtel / Glo prepaid

Local prepaid
Network
MTN / Airtel / Glo / 9mobile
Price
Varies
Keeping the number
A chargeable call, SMS or data use within 6 months or the line is deactivated; recycled after about 360 days without activity
ID check
Short-stay foreigners: passport bio page plus embassy letter; residents: NIN
SMS & calls
A normal Nigerian number

Pros

  • Use once every six months

Watch out

  • Foreign registration needs an embassy letter
3 sources
www.ncc.gov.ng/sites/default/files/2025-07/Business-Rules-for-the-Registration-of-Communications-Subscribers-Regulations-2025.pdfwww.thecable.ng/ncc-nin-sim-linkage-not-applicable-to-expatriates-living-in-nigeria-under-2-yearstechnext24.com/2026/02/23/nigerias-tricky-sim-recycling-system

From user and blogger reports; platform risk rules change often — treat as a guide only. This section checked 2026-09-14.

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Other countries

Elsewhere in Africa