What is Nigeria's country code?

Nigeria's country code is +234. In international form you write +234 followed by the number without its leading zero.

How do I turn 0803 into international format?

Drop the leading zero and add +234. So a mobile like 0803 xxx xxxx becomes +234 803 xxx xxxx.

What is the international access code in Nigeria?

It is 009 when you dial manually, or you can simply use the plus sign. With StartACall you just type the plus sign and the country code.

How do I convert an 0701 or 0908 number?

The same way as any other. Drop the zero and add +234, so 0701 xxx xxxx becomes +234 701 xxx xxxx and 0908 xxx xxxx becomes +234 908 xxx xxxx.

Why does my call to a +234 number fail to connect?

Usually because the leading zero was kept by mistake, like +234 0803. Remove that single zero so it reads +234 803 and the rest of the number.

The Nigeria country code +234 explained | StartACall | StartACall

What +234 means and where the zero goes

Nigeria's country code is +234. Nigerian phone numbers are written with a leading zero locally, like 0803, 0805, 0701 or 0908 for mobiles. When the number is written in international form, that leading zero is dropped and +234 is added in its place.

So a local mobile like 0803 xxx xxxx becomes +234 803 xxx xxxx. The same rule applies to landlines that carry an area code with a leading zero. The plus sign stands in for the international access prefix, which in Nigeria is 009 when you dial it out manually.

How people abroad dial a Nigerian number

When someone outside Nigeria wants to reach you, they dial their own international access prefix or the plus sign, then 234, then your number without the leading zero. From the USA that is 011 234 and the number, while from many other countries it is 00 234 or simply +234.

If you give your number to a contact abroad, the cleanest way to share it is in full international form, like +234 803 xxx xxxx. That format works from any country and from any app, because the plus sign tells the phone to add the correct exit code automatically.

Calling out from Nigeria with StartACall

When you call the other way, from Nigeria to abroad, you do not need the 009 access code at all. With StartACall you open your browser, type the plus sign, the destination country code and the number, and the call connects over wifi or data.

There is no app, no SIM and no airtime needed, since the call uses the internet rather than carrier airtime. Billing is per minute with no monthly plan, the credit never expires, and the first call is free so you can test the voice quality first.

Converting the common 080x, 070x, 090x and 081x mobiles

Most Nigerian mobile numbers begin 080, 070, 090 or 081 in local form. The conversion to international is always the same simple step. A line written 0802 xxx xxxx becomes +234 802 xxx xxxx, a 0703 line becomes +234 703 xxx xxxx, a 0905 line becomes +234 905 xxx xxxx and a 0814 line becomes +234 814 xxx xxxx.

In every case you remove only the single leading zero and put +234 in front, keeping the rest of the digits exactly as they are. Doubling up, like writing +234 0802, is the most common mistake and stops the call connecting, since the network then sees one digit too many.

Saving numbers so they work everywhere

The neat thing about the international form is that a number saved as +234 803 xxx xxxx works from any country and any device without editing. The plus sign lets each phone supply its own exit code, so you never have to remember whether you are dialling from a place that uses 00, 011 or 009.

It is a good habit to store every contact this way, Nigerian and foreign alike. Then when you open StartACall in your browser you can call them straight from the saved number, with no app, no SIM and nothing to rebuild before each call. The same saved number also works if a contact wants to dial you, since the plus format is what every phone and app expects.

The Nigeria country code +234

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