Airport
Flying from Lagos to Accra: Arrival, Airport Pickup and Car Rental & Hire
Quick answer: The Lagos to Accra flight is short: Air Peace's published timetable has a flight leaving Lagos at 08:00 and landing in Accra at 08:05 local time. Accra is one hour behind Lagos, so that's about an hour and five minutes in the air. Air Peace, Africa World Airlines, Ibom Air and United Nigeria Airlines all list the route on their own websites. Nigerian and other ECOWAS citizens don't need a visa for Ghana, but you do need a valid passport and a yellow fever certificate. You land at Accra International Airport (formerly Kotoka). Pre-book your pickup or car hire & rental, and check your driver's ID before you load your bags.
This guide is for anyone flying from Lagos to Accra: Nigerian business travellers and families, students, conference visitors, Ghanaians living in Nigeria and travellers connecting through Lagos from elsewhere. It covers the airlines, the flight time, the entry rules for ECOWAS citizens, what happens when you land, and how to arrange car rental and hire in Accra, including driving on a Nigerian licence.
Lagos to Accra at a glance
| Route | Lagos (LOS) to Accra (ACC) |
| Airlines listing the route on their own sites | Air Peace, Africa World Airlines, Ibom Air, United Nigeria Airlines |
| Flight time | About 1 hour 5 minutes on Air Peace's published timetable |
| Time difference | Accra is 1 hour behind Lagos |
| Visa for ECOWAS citizens | Not required (GIS); valid passport needed |
| Health | Yellow fever certificate required to enter Ghana (FCDO) |
| Fares | Not listed here; check the airlines |
| Checked | 24 October 2026 |
Which airlines fly from Lagos to Accra?
We checked the airlines' own websites on 24 October 2026.
- Air Peace published new West African schedules from 1 April 2026. Its Lagos–Accra–Monrovia and Lagos–Accra–Freetown services both leave Lagos at 08:00 and reach Accra at 08:05, between them covering every day of the week.
- Africa World Airlines lists Lagos among its destinations with up to three flights a day.
- Ibom Air announced daily Lagos–Accra flights from 17 October 2023, still lists Accra as a destination, and gives an office address in the Terminal 3 departure hall in Accra.
- United Nigeria Airlines lists Accra among its top destinations. The Ghana News Agency reported that Ghana Airports Company welcomed its first flight on the Accra–Abuja–Lagos route in November 2025.
Flight-schedule websites list other carriers on the route too, but we only name airlines we could confirm on their own sites. Timetables change, so check your airline's site or app before you book and again on the day. We don't list fares.
How long is the flight?
Air Peace's timetable shows 08:00 in Lagos to 08:05 in Accra. Because Ghana is one hour behind Nigeria, that's roughly 1 hour 5 minutes of flying. Other airlines' times will differ a little. Give your driver or car rental firm your flight number, not just a time, so they can track delays.
Baggage
Africa World Airlines says it allows 30 kg of checked baggage on its Lagos and Abuja routes, plus one piece of hand luggage of up to 5 kg and a handbag or laptop bag. Other airlines set their own limits. If you're travelling with lots of luggage, tell your car hire & rental firm how many bags you have, so they send a big enough vehicle.
Entry rules for Nigerian and ECOWAS citizens
- No visa. The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) lists Nigeria and the other ECOWAS states (Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Liberia, Benin and Cabo Verde) as "visa not required for all types of passports". GIS adds that a visa-exempt traveller may still be granted entry "subject to prescribed conditions", so entry isn't automatic.
- The new e-visa doesn't change this. When Ghana launched its e-visa system in May 2026, MyJoyOnline reported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying ECOWAS travellers are unaffected and will continue to enter visa-free.
- How long you can stay. Under the ECOWAS free-movement rules, community citizens can stay up to 90 days without a visa. In June 2024, ECOWAS said its 2014 decision to scrap the 90-day limit still hadn't been put into practice. We couldn't find a Ghana announcement changing the 90-day rule as of 24 October 2026, so plan around 90 days and ask GIS if you need longer.
- Bring your passport. GIS lists passports in its table. We couldn't confirm that airlines on this route accept a national ID card instead, so travel on a valid passport.
- Yellow fever. The UK FCDO says you must have a certificate proving yellow fever vaccination to enter Ghana. Keep it with your passport.
Not an ECOWAS citizen? If you're connecting through Lagos on another passport, your rules depend on your nationality. Check the GIS eVisa portal before you fly.
Flying back to Lagos? Africa World Airlines tells passengers flying to Lagos or Abuja to complete Nigeria's NCDC health declaration form before departure.
Landing at Accra International Airport (formerly Kotoka)
Ghana's main airport is called Accra International Airport. The Ministry of Transport announced in February 2026 that Kotoka International Airport would go back to its original name. The airport code is still ACC, and you'll still see the Kotoka name on some signs.
International flights use Terminal 3. GACL says its arrivals are on levels 1 and 2, with 24 immigration counters, e-gates, baggage carousels and a meeters and greeters area. The Ministry of Transport said in February 2026 that Terminal 2 is being repurposed to take international as well as domestic flights, so check your terminal with your airline.
The usual order is health check, immigration, baggage reclaim, customs and then the arrivals hall, where pre-booked drivers wait. Our Accra International Airport arrival and pickup guide walks through each step.
Meeting your driver safely
The UK FCDO advises: "If you're being collected at the airport, confirm the identity of your driver by asking for ID." It says impostors pretending to be drivers have robbed travellers around the main arrivals area. It also says permanent airport staff wear ID cards with their name and photo, ID cards without a photo aren't valid, and you should be wary of offers of help except from uniformed porters or officials.
Our checklist:
- Get the driver's name, photo, phone number and plate number before you leave Lagos.
- Agree a name board with a code word or booking reference, not just your surname.
- Ask for ID and check the plate before your bags go in the boot.
- Don't go with someone who says they "know your driver".
- Write down your hotel or host's number in case your phone has no signal on landing.
Compare meet-and-greet firms on our Accra International Airport transfer page. Our guide to avoiding car hire & rental scams in Ghana explains how to check a firm before you pay a deposit.
Car rental & hire in Accra
Most visitors from Lagos choose one of these:
- A car with a driver. This is the easiest choice for business trips and first visits, and it means you don't need to worry about licence rules.
- Self-drive car hire & rental, with the car delivered to the airport or your hotel.
- An airport transfer to your hotel, then a car or driver for the days you need one.
Compare firms on our car rental and hire in Accra page. Prices change often, so we don't publish them here. Each firm's own page shows what it charges, and you should ask for a written quote for your dates.
What to agree before you fly
| Agree in writing | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Flight number and arrival time | So the driver can track delays |
| What happens if your flight is late or cancelled | So you don't pay for a wasted trip or end up without a car |
| Driver's name, photo, phone and plate number | So you can check you've got the right person |
| Waiting time included, and the charge after that | Agree it before, not after |
| Number of passengers and bags | So the vehicle is big enough |
| For self-drive: insurance, fuel policy, mileage and breakdown contact | So you know who to call |
Never send a deposit to a personal account that doesn't match the firm's name.
Driving in Ghana on a Nigerian licence
Citi Newsroom's 2026 explainer says short-term visitors can drive in Ghana on their home licence plus an International Driving Permit (IDP), usually the 1949 Geneva Convention version, for up to 90 days. After that, foreigners count as residents and must convert to a Ghanaian licence through the DVLA.
We couldn't find any official rule that lets Nigerian or other ECOWAS licence holders drive in Ghana without an IDP, so we don't suggest it. An IDP has to come from the country that issued your licence, so get one in Nigeria before you travel. We couldn't confirm the current application process on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) website, so ask the FRSC directly. Many car hire & rental firms set their own licence and age rules too, so ask the firm what it needs.
Our International Driving Permit guide for Ghana covers the 90-day rule and licence conversion in more detail.
Thinking of driving between Accra and Lagos?
The road from Accra to Lagos crosses Togo and Benin. Hire cars generally can't leave Ghana without the firm's written permission, and you'd need the right insurance and border documents. Our Accra to Aflao guide covers the Togo border, the ECOWAS Brown Card insurance and what to ask a firm about cross-border trips.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Lagos to Accra?
About an hour. Air Peace's timetable shows 08:00 in Lagos to 08:05 in Accra, and Accra is one hour behind Lagos, so that's roughly 1 hour 5 minutes in the air.
Which airlines fly from Lagos to Accra?
Air Peace, Africa World Airlines, Ibom Air and United Nigeria Airlines all list the route on their own websites, checked on 24 October 2026. Check each airline for current times.
Do Nigerians need a visa to visit Ghana?
No. The Ghana Immigration Service lists Nigeria and the other ECOWAS states as visa-exempt for all types of passport. You still need a valid passport and a yellow fever certificate, and entry is subject to immigration conditions.
How long can a Nigerian stay in Ghana without a visa?
Up to 90 days under the ECOWAS free-movement rules. ECOWAS agreed in 2014 to scrap that limit, but said in 2024 that the change hadn't been put into practice. We found no Ghana announcement changing the 90-day rule as of 24 October 2026.
Can I drive in Ghana with a Nigerian driving licence?
As a short-term visitor, carry your Nigerian licence and an International Driving Permit. Citi Newsroom reports that visitors can drive this way for up to 90 days. We couldn't find an official exemption from the IDP for ECOWAS licences.
Is Kotoka airport the same as Accra International Airport?
Yes. The government restored the original name, Accra International Airport, in February 2026. The airport code ACC hasn't changed.
Next steps
Pick a firm on our car rental and hire in Accra page, send it your flight number, and get the driver's details, the price and the waiting-time terms in writing before you leave Lagos.
Sources
- Air Peace expands West African regional network with new flight schedules effective 1 April 2026 (Lagos–Accra 08:00–08:05; checked 24 October 2026) (Air Peace)
- Our destinations: Lagos, up to 3 flights daily; 30 kg checked baggage on Lagos routes; NCDC health declaration for flights to Lagos (checked 24 October 2026) (Africa World Airlines)
- It's official! Accra here we come! (daily Lagos–Accra flights from 17 October 2023; Accra listed as a destination, checked 24 October 2026) (Ibom Air)
- Our top destinations, including Accra (checked 24 October 2026) (United Nigeria Airlines)
- Ghana Airports Company Limited receives United Nigeria Airlines (Accra–Abuja–Lagos route; 11 November 2025) (Ghana News Agency)
- Visas: Ghana visa regime, ECOWAS states visa not required for all types of passports (checked 24 October 2026) (Ghana Immigration Service (GIS))
- Ghana's new e-visa: what it is and how to apply (ECOWAS travellers unaffected; 25 May 2026) (MyJoyOnline)
- ECOWAS Commission challenges member states to accelerate the abolition of the 90-day stay limitation for community citizens (5 June 2024) (ECOWAS)
- Ghana travel advice: entry requirements (yellow fever certificate) (checked 24 October 2026) (UK FCDO)
- Ghana travel advice: safety and security (safety at airports, confirming your driver's ID) (checked 24 October 2026) (UK FCDO)
- Government reverts Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport (23 February 2026) (Ministry of Transport)
- Projects: Terminal 3 (arrivals on levels 1 and 2, immigration counters, e-gates, meeters and greeters area) (checked 24 October 2026) (Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL))
- Explainer: how to get a driver's licence in Ghana in 2026 (visitors: home licence plus IDP for up to 90 days) (Citi Newsroom)
Last checked: 24 October 2026. Rules, prices and advice change, so recheck official sources before you travel.
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Photo: Sean MENDIS, CC BY-SA 4.0
