Abuja - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Nigerians like to dress up for occasions. At the Embassy, I have seen business attire and business casual, outside the embassy everything goes. Formal dress depends on what events you attend. We have a Marine Ball and there might be other events or celebrations, so it's good to bring at least something a little more formal. - Sep 2019
I find westerners tend to dress poorly here. The Embassy is fairly dressed up, but in public its less so. Africans always look as good as they possibly can when they're in public. I think expats sort of 'give up' as it's very hot and very dirty and dressing up just seems like too much work. I dress completely differently here than I ever do at home in the States. Here, my entire wardrobe consists of dresses. I have three pairs of shoes. An orthopedic sandal that I wear for everyday and pool, a flat dress sandal with beads that I wear out to dinner, and a pair of gym shoes for exercise or if we have to go somewhere that walking a distance will be required. The dresses I buy at Goodwill or Walmart and simply leave in the wardrobe when we go home. I tell the maid to take them as I never want to see them again come home leave time. I have a $3 watch I wear, and here it looks like a Movado. I have a clutch of $1.99 sale earrings that I wear and then also give away. With all that said, I always look as nice or better than most of my counterparts. It's not a place to bring nice clothing. My husband wears Dockers, a white dress shirt, jacket and tie to work at the Embassy. Most men wear suits, but Friday is casual day for jeans. The women are well dressed, but at a lesser level then DC. Again, just remember the dust, sweat and rain if you have to go of the office to work at all. - Feb 2019
Similar to DC. - Apr 2018
Business/business casual at the embassy, depending on your portfolio. Shorts, short skirts/dresses should be avoided in public. - Apr 2017
Business attire or native dress. Formal for the Marine Ball. Nigerians tend to be more formal and rank- or class-oriented then they let on. Fashionable clothing marks one as a person of status and rank. Americans tend to discount this, as our status and rank is derived from our work and what we do, and so we tend to dress comfortably. - Jun 2016
Generally pretty conservative. If you had to deal with people outside of the embassy: coat and tie; internal: slacks and dress shirt. - Aug 2015
Business wear in the work place and casual in the public eye. Nigerians like to dress up in the native wear. - Jun 2015
Business casual. In public, modesty is usual the way to go. - Nov 2014
Business professional at work and respectful in public. - Aug 2014
Suits are work. Dressy casual in public. - May 2014
Generally conservative at work, a bit more flexible in public. - May 2013
More formal. - Jun 2009
From my impression, it's semi-casual. A lot of people wear jeans on Friday. - Sep 2008
In the Embassy, suits for most men, skirts/pantsuits for most women. In public -- I'd say NO SHORTS unless you're going just to an expat grocery store. Nigerians are fairly conservative dressers, and they dress in local costume most of the time. - Aug 2008
Business at work, casual is fine in public, but you still want to dress modestly. - Jul 2008
