When someone dies in Nigeria
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.
Documents
Details
Contents
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Registering the death
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Getting a death certificate
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Post-mortem in Nigeria
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Burying or cremating the body in Nigeria
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Bringing the body to the UK
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Bringing the ashes to the UK
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Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself
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Arranging for the ashes to be taken to the UK
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Getting the person’s belongings back
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Finding a Nigeria lawyer
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Telling the UK authorities
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Contacting the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Contacting the insurance company
If the person who died had insurance, contact their insurance company as soon as possible. Read the What to do when someone dies abroad - GOV.UK 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 births and deaths registry office. Your funeral director can normally do this for you. You’ll need information and documents about the person who has died, including their:
- full names
- dates of birth
- official identity document (for example their British passport)
- passport of the person who died
- the cause of death certificate – the hospital where the person died usually issues this within a week
- the post-mortem report if the person died outside a hospital
Getting a death certificate
After registering the death, you will get a death certificate. It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them to show to people later.
Post-mortem 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’ll not automatically be told if this happens.
These examinations are performed by forensic doctors appointed by the court. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has no authority to intervene or halt the process.
Decision to Perform a Post-Mortem
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-mortemscan cost approximately ₦750,000 or more (around £360 or higher).
Police-Initiated Post-mortem
In a suspicious death, the police may request a post-mortem without the next of kin’s consent. In such instances, the local authorities will cover the costs. However, a shortage of pathologists may result in significant delays. Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to arrange a private post-mortem, this can be done through a funeral director. The costs will be borne by the individual or family.
Toxicology testing is not mandatory in all cases, but, where required tissue samples and organs may be removed and retained for analysis without the family’s consent.
Post-mortem Report
The post-mortem report typically takes at least two weeks to be released and will be made available to the next of kin. To obtain a copy of the report, you must apply through the coroner in the UK (if the body is repatriated) or the local court.
Please note: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not able to cover the cost of a post-mortem.
Burying or cremating the body in Nigeria
You need a local funeral director: Find a professional service abroad - Results for Funeral Directors in Nigeria to arrange a burial or cremation in Nigeria. Your funeral director will usually be able to explain the options available and the costs, and help you make arrangements.
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:
- death certificate from hospital
- a death certificate from National Population Commission
- 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.
- show the passport of the person who died
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.
Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself
If you choose local cremation and wish to take the ashes back to the UK yourself, you can usually do so.
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 regulations about leaving Nigeria with ashes – your funeral director can give you more information
- tell the airline in advance – ask your funeral director for more information.
- fill in a standard customs form when you arrive home
Arranging for the ashes to be taken to the UK
If it is not possible for you to transport the ashes yourself, a funeral director will be able to make the necessary arrangements. The FCDO provides a list of UK-based international funeral directors.
Getting the person’s belongings back
If the person who died had insurance, check with the insurance company if this covers the return of their belongings.
Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to the family, or the Nigerian police if the family is not present.
If you bring the person’s body to the UK, you can ask your local funeral director at: Find a professional service abroad - Results for Funeral Directors in Nigeria to collect all the belongings and transport them together with the person who died.
The police may keep the person’s belongings as evidence if there is an investigation into the death. They 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 British 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 What to do when someone dies abroad - GOV.UK 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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All guidance has been reviewed and title changed to 'When someone dies in Nigeria'
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First published.
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Few informations have been reviewed including inserting a HTML link.
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Information has been updated to reflect the most relevant information provided to date.
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Updated bereavement information
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updated information on deaths involving British Nationals in Nigeria