Nigeria: SMS delivery facts
SMS delivery to Nigeria uses calling code +234. Alphanumeric sender IDs fall under a pre-registration regime and must be registered with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) via a local aggregator before use. Content uses the GSM-7 charset, with 160 characters for single messages and 153 for concatenated segments.
| Country calling code | +234 (ITU-T E.164 assigned country codes, retrieved 2026-07-27) |
|---|---|
| E.164 format | +234 followed by the national subscriber number, no leading trunk zero, 15 digits maximum overall (ITU-T E.164) |
| Alphanumeric sender ID | pre registration (per NCC Nigeria sender ID registration requirement, retrieved 2026-07-26) |
| Registration regime | carrier-specific practice |
| Dominant language(s) | English |
| Native-text charset | GSM-7 — 160 characters per single SMS, 153 per concatenated segment (GSM 03.38 default alphabet vs script analysis, retrieved 2026-07-27) |
| Published smsroute rate | USD 0.011 per message, dated snapshot (source, retrieved 2026-07-27). Current rate and send path: rate card for Nigeria |
Sender-ID rules
Sender IDs must be registered with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) via a local aggregator before use. (per NCC Nigeria sender ID registration requirement, verified 2026-07-26)
Sender IDs must be registered with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) via a local aggregator before use. This reflects the pre-registration requirement for alphanumeric sender IDs. With the GSM-7 charset class, single segments hold 160 characters and concatenated segments hold 153.
Character set and message length
Native English text is classed as GSM-7 here: 160 characters fit a single SMS and 153 per segment once a message is concatenated.
To count segments for a concrete message, use the UDH segment surgeon; to compare all 40 countries side by side, the country requirements explorer reads the same open dataset (CC-BY 4.0).
Frequently asked
- What is the calling code for SMS to Nigeria?
- The calling code for Nigeria is +234.
- Do alphanumeric sender IDs require registration for Nigeria?
- Yes, sender IDs must be registered with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) via a local aggregator before use.
- What is the published SMS rate to Nigeria and which segment lengths apply?
- The published rate is 0.011 USD, retrieved 2026-07-27. GSM-7 supports 160 characters in a single message and 153 per concatenated segment.
Related
- Norway: SMS delivery facts
- Pakistan: SMS delivery facts
- Philippines: SMS delivery facts
- Sender ID (glossary)
- GSM-7 (glossary) · UCS-2 (glossary)
- All 40 country fact sheets
Facts on this page are dated snapshots with named sources; rates change — the linked rate card is authoritative. Corrections: ops@smsroute.cc. Last verified 2026-07-27.