Time in Nigeria Now

Nigeria follows West Africa Time (WAT), which operates on UTC +1 throughout the year. The country does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so the time stays the same in all seasons. This provides a simple and stable timekeeping system for residents, travelers, and businesses.

Major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt all use the same national time zone. This uniformity helps maintain smooth coordination for communication, transportation, and daily schedules across the country.

Nigeria Time Zone Information

• IANA Time Zone: Africa/Lagos

• UTC Offset: UTC +1 hour

• Time Zone Abbreviation: WAT (West Africa Time)

• DST: Not observed

• DST Abbreviation: None — the time remains stable year-round

Nigeria shares its time zone with several countries in West and Central Africa that also follow WAT.

Nigeria time zone(s)

The official IANA identifier for Nigeria is Africa/Lagos.

Daylight Saving Time in Nigeria

Nigeria does not observe Daylight Saving Time.
The country stays on UTC +1 throughout the year, ensuring consistent timekeeping nationwide.

Major cities in Nigeria & their time

All major cities follow the same national time zone.

Brief info for Nigeria time

• Number of time zones: 1

• Capital city: Abuja

• Default time: West Africa Time (WAT)

• Daylight Saving Time: Not used

• IANA Time Zone ID: Africa/Lagos

• Standard UTC Offset: UTC +1

• Neighbouring countries with same time: Niger, Chad, Cameroon

• Regional differences: None — the entire country uses the same time

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. One national time zone makes scheduling straightforward.

2. UTC +1 aligns well with several West and Central African countries.

3. No DST — no seasonal time adjustments.

4. Convenient for regional communication and travel.

5. Predictable timekeeping throughout the year.

Cons

1. Limited overlap with the Americas and East Asia business hours.

2. Seasonal daylight variation can feel more noticeable without DST.