When someone dies in Nigeria
This guide gives advice about the death of a British person in Nigeria, including information on burial, cremation and repatriation.
The process when a British national dies in Nigeria, including registering the death, funerals and cremations, and bringing the person’s body to the UK.
Contacting the insurance company
If the person who died had insurance, contact their insurance company as soon as possible. Read the general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad if you’re not sure if they had insurance.
The insurance company should appoint a funeral director in Nigeria and the UK. They may also cover the cost of bringing the person’s body to the UK (repatriation) and help with any medical, legal, interpretation and translation fees.
Registering the death
The death must be registered at the local Nigeria registry office. Your funeral director can normally do this for you.
You will need information and documents about the person who has died, including their:
- birth certificate, showing their place of birth and parents’ names
- religion
- official identity document (for example their British passport)
- the cause of death certificate – the hospital where the person died usually issues this within a week
- spouse’s details (if applicable)
- marriage certificate (if applicable)
- divorce papers (if applicable)
Getting a death certificate
After registering the death, you will get a death certificate. Nigeria death certificates do not give the cause of death. it’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them to show to people later.
Post mortems in Nigeria
A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. There might be one in Nigeria if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent.
Cultural or religious sensitivities may not be taken into account. Small tissue samples and organs may be removed for testing without the family’s permission. You will not automatically be told if this happens.
If organs are removed they will normally be returned before the person’s body is released for burial. In exceptional circumstances body parts may be kept without permission. This might happen if further investigation is needed. The next of kin will be told if this happens.
The decision to conduct a post-mortem examination depends on the circumstances of the death, the deceased person’s prior wishes, and the next of kin’s preferences. In private hospitals or funeral homes, post-mortems can cost approximately ₦750,000 or more (around £360 or higher).
Post mortem reports are not usually given to the next of kin. If you have a lawyer they can apply for a copy.
Burying or cremating the body in Nigeria
You need a local (Nigerian) funeral director to arrange a burial or cremation in Nigeria. The exact rules on burials and cremations are different depending on where you are in Nigeria. Your funeral director can give you advice.
It is possible to cremate the body of a foreign national. Ask your funeral director for advice if you want to scatter the ashes in Nigeria and take care about where you do this.
In Nigeria, it is possible to donate a body to medical science. The family of the person who died can decide to arrange body donation through a local funeral director or an international funeral director. If family cannot afford to pay for a funeral, the body will be part of a mass burial.
You should not have the person cremated abroad if you want a coroner in England and Wales to conduct an inquest into their death. In Scotland, a further investigation may still be possible.
Bringing the body to the UK
Ask your funeral director about options for bringing the person’s body to the UK from Nigeria
When taking the person’s body to the UK from Nigeria you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- a death certificate from National Population Commission
- get permission to remove the person’s body, issued by a coroner
- show the passport of the person who died
- Infection free declaration from (Ministry of Health). The exact rules are different depending on where you are in Nigeria. Your funeral director can give you advice.
The body must be embalmed and placed in metal casket to be brought to the UK. Embalming usually takes place after post-mortem.
Bringing the ashes to the UK
Ask your funeral director about the rules for bringing ashes to the UK. There are different rules depending on where you are in Nigeria.
Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself
If you are taking the ashes with you when you leave Nigeria you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- show the cremation certificate
- follow local Nigerian regulations about leaving Nigeria with ashes - your funeral director can give you more information
- tell the airline in advance.
Arranging for the ashes to be taken to the UK
Ask your funeral director for advice if you cannot take the ashes yourself. You may not be able to send them by post or courier. Ashes can be shipped by air freight, although this can be expensive.
Getting the person’s belongings back
Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to you or the Nigerian police.
If you bring the person’s body to the UK, you can ask your local funeral director to collect all the belongings and transport them together.
If they were a Nigerian resident you may not be able to take the belongings as they may be part of their estate. Get legal advice if this happens.
Belongings may be kept as evidence if there is an investigation into the death. This will only be returned when the court case is over.
The FCDO cannot help with the cost of returning personal belongings to the family.
The British High Commission in Nigeria cannot take responsibility for the personal belongings of the person who died.
Finding a Nigerian lawyer
You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Nigerian legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Nigeria. The High Commission in Nigeria cannot give you legal advice or pay for legal costs.
Telling the UK authorities
Although you do not have to register the death in the UK, when someone dies abroad you still need to tell the UK authorities. Read general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad to find out what to do.
Contacting the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
You can contact the FCDO if you still need advice:
- in the UK call +44 (0)20 7008 5000
- see how to get help from the UK government abroad
Updates to this page
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Annual review - no updates were made, the page is up-to-date.
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First published.
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The 'Deal with a local post-mortem' section has been amended to reflect the cost of post-mortems for COVID-related deaths.
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Information updated following a review of the content. The contact numbers for UK missions in Lagos and Abuja have been updated.