What to do if someone dies in Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the most frequent repatriation origins for UK families, reflecting the size and reach of the Nigerian diaspora in Britain. Whether the death occurred in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, or a more remote state, the documentation requirements are the same. The difference is in how long those documents take to obtain.

Notify the British High Commission

The British High Commission in Abuja is the primary consular contact. Address: Dangote House, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Phone: +234 9 462 2200. A Deputy High Commission operates in Lagos.

The FCDO 24-hour emergency line is +44 1908 516666.

Consular staff will register the death with UK authorities and advise on the Nigerian documentation sequence. They are experienced with Nigerian bureaucratic processes and know which offices can be expedited and which cannot.

Two death certificates, not one

This is the single most important thing to understand about Nigerian repatriation. There are two documents that both get called “the death certificate” in common usage, and they are not interchangeable.

The hospital medical certificate of cause of death is issued by the attending physician. It is necessary, but it is not sufficient for international repatriation.

The National Population Commission (NPC) death certificate is the legally recognised document for international purposes. It is issued by the NPC office on receipt of the medical certificate and proof of identity. Obtaining the NPC certificate typically takes 5 to 14 days. This is the document foreign authorities and airlines require. Source: National Population Commission Act (Cap. N63, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004).

Post-mortem

A post-mortem is required for violent, sudden, or suspicious deaths, conducted by a government pathologist. Forensic pathology capacity is concentrated in Lagos and Abuja. Deaths in other states, particularly northern states, may require the body to be transferred to a facility with appropriate capacity.

Outside Lagos and Abuja, delays of 10 to 21 days for a post-mortem are not unusual. This is not a failure of the process; it is the reality of forensic infrastructure across a large and varied country. Source: Nigerian Coroners Law (various state editions).

State Ministry of Health export permit

Once the NPC certificate, embalming certificate, and freedom from infectious disease clearance are all in hand, the State Ministry of Health issues the export permit. In Lagos, this is the Lagos State Ministry of Health. In Abuja, it is the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

Allow 7 to 14 days for the export permit. The Ministry does not accept the hospital medical certificate as a substitute for the NPC document. This distinction causes delays when families or local agents are not aware of it.

Air freight from Lagos

British Airways operates direct Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) to London Heathrow with cargo capacity. Virgin Atlantic also serves this route. For repatriations originating outside Lagos, most route through Lagos cargo terminal.

Human remains travel in a hermetically sealed zinc-lined coffin. Your UK funeral director collects from the Heathrow cargo terminal.

What families can do from the UK

Appoint a UK specialist immediately. Provide them with the deceased’s passport, travel insurance documents, and the name and contact of anyone managing matters in Nigeria. If the deceased was visiting family in Nigeria, that family member may need to handle some of the on-the-ground steps. Clear coordination between the UK specialist and the in-country contact saves days.

Travel insurance with repatriation cover is essential for visits to Nigeria given the potential documentation timelines. If no insurance exists, families bear the full cost directly. Source: Association of British Insurers guidance; FCDO guidance on death in Nigeria (2023).