Current time in Nigeria
12:00:00GMT+1
Thursday 1 October 2026
Nigeria is on the same time as the UK right now.
In the UK it is 12:00 BST. Your device: 12:00 (Same as UK).
Nigeria time zone
Nigeria uses West Africa Time (WAT), UTC+1, in every state, from Lagos and Abuja to Kano and Port Harcourt. The IANA zone is Africa/Lagos. Nigeria has been on UTC+1 since 1919 and does not use daylight saving time.
That gives Nigeria an unusual relationship with UK time: during British Summer Time the two countries show exactly the same time, and during the British winter Nigeria is one hour ahead.
Other countries on WAT include Cameroon, Benin, Niger, Chad, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Angola and the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including Kinshasa. Ghana is not: it uses GMT all year, so Accra is one hour behind Lagos.
Time difference between the UK and Nigeria
| Period | UK clocks | Nigeria vs UK | Noon in the UK is |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January to 29 March 2026 | GMT (UTC+0) | 1 hour ahead | 13:00 |
| 29 March to 25 October 2026 | BST (UTC+1) | Same time as the UK | 12:00 |
| 25 October 2026 to 28 March 2027 | GMT (UTC+0) | 1 hour ahead | 13:00 |
| 28 March to 31 October 2027 | BST (UTC+1) | Same time as the UK | 12:00 |
| 31 October 2027 to 26 March 2028 | GMT (UTC+0) | 1 hour ahead | 13:00 |
Best times to call Nigeria from the UK
| UK time | Nigeria, late Oct to late Mar | Nigeria, late Mar to late Oct | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 09:00 | 08:00 | Start of the working day |
| 13:00 | 14:00 | 13:00 | Lunchtime or early afternoon |
| 18:00 | 19:00 | 18:00 | After work in both countries |
| 21:00 | 22:00 | 21:00 | Late evening calls to family |
Working days line up closely. An 8am to 5pm office in Lagos is open from 7am to 4pm UK time in winter and 8am to 5pm in summer.
Converting the time
A 10am video call from Manchester on Monday 2 November 2026 is at 11am in Abuja. On Tuesday 1 June 2027 it is 10am in both cities. Football works the same way: a 3pm Saturday kick-off in England is 3pm in Lagos during BST and 4pm in winter. For other dates, use the time zone converter; to plan across several countries, use the meeting planner.
Related pages
- World clockLive times in 25 cities and their gap from the UK.
- Time in South AfricaSAST, UTC+2, no daylight saving.
- Time in FranceCET and CEST, one hour ahead all year.
- Time in SpainMainland CET, Canary Islands on UK time.
- GMT time nowThe UK's winter time, and the base for every offset on this page.
- When the UK clocks changeExact dates for 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nigeria on the same time as the UK?
Only in summer. During British Summer Time, from late March to late October, Nigeria and the UK show the same time. In the British winter Nigeria is 1 hour ahead.
Does Nigeria change its clocks?
No. Nigeria uses West Africa Time, UTC+1, all year.
What time zone is Nigeria in?
West Africa Time (WAT), UTC+1. Lagos, Abuja, Kano and the rest of the country share it.
Is Ghana the same time as Nigeria?
No. Ghana uses GMT all year, so Accra is 1 hour behind Lagos.