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Abbreviations play a significant role in Nigerian communication. It is often used in news, web articles and textbooks—so learners/students must know quite a number of them by heart. Abbreviations can also be used to avoid repetitions. For instance, instead of saying “Central Bank of Nigeria” every time, you can simply choose to say “CBN.” It’s shorter and more effective!
With that said, let’s dive into common abbreviations or acronyms used in Nigeria. The list below cuts across abbreviations relating to Nigerian industries, universities, security agencies, bodies and religious associations.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AAP | Academic Associates Peaceworks |
| AAU | Ambrose Alli University |
| AAUA | Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko |
| AAWUN | Agricultural and Allied Workers Union of Nigeria |
| ABSU | Abia State University |
| ABUTH | Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital |
| ACCON | Anti-Cult Campaign Organisation of Nigeria |
| ACN | Action Congress Nigeria |
| ACOMORAN | Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria |
| ACP | Assistant Commissioner of Police |
| AIG | Assistant Inspector-General |
| AIT | Africa Independent Television |
| ALSCON | Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria |
| ANCLA | Association of Customs Licensed Agents |
| ANPP | All Nigeria People’s Party |
| AP | African Petroleum |
| AP | Accord Party |
| APC | Armoured Personnel Carrier |
| APC | All Progressives Congress |
| APGA | All Progressive Grand Alliance |
| APRI | Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative |
| ASP | Assistant Superintendant of Police |
| ASSCU | Anambra State Sewage Contractors Union |
| ATBU | Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University |
| ATQON | Association of Tippers and Quarry Owners of Nigeria |
| AVS | Anambra Vigilance Service |
| AWB | Airway Bill |
| AYDF | Arewa Youth Development Foundation |
| BAM | Black Axe Movement |
| BB | Black Berets |
| BCGA | British Cotton Growers Association |
| BENSU | Benue State University |
| BH | Boko Haram |
| BL | Bill of Lading |
| BTS | Base Transmission Station |
| C&F | Cost & Freight |
| CAA | Civil Aviation Authority |
| CAC | Corporate Affairs Commission |
| CAN | Christian Association of Nigeria |
| CARE | Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere |
| CBN | Central Bank of Nigeria |
| CCC | Celestial Church of Christ |
| CCI | Concerned Citizens of Ika |
| CDA | Community Development Association |
| CDC | Community Development Committee |
| CDS | Chief of Defence Staff |
| CENTECS | Centre for Ethnic and Conflict Studies |
| CID | Criminal Investigation Department |
| CIDJAP | Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace |
| CJTF | Civilian Joint Task Force |
| CLO | Civil Liberties Organization |
| CLO | Community Liaison officer |
| CLP | Citizen Leadership Party |
| CNPC | Chinese National Petroleum Company |
| COCIN | Church of Christ in Nigeria |
| CODUC | Coordinadora de Organizaciones Democraticas Urbanas y Campesinas |
| COMA | Coalition for Militant Action |
| COMESECOMS | Community Secondary Commercial School |
| COMOA | Commercial Motorcycles Operators Association |
| CONTISS | Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Structure |
| COREN | Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria |
| CPA | Christian Praying Assembly |
| CPC | Congress for Progressive Change |
| CPM | Christian Pentecostal Mission |
| CPS | Central Police Station |
| CRC | Civil Rights Congress |
| CRSWB | Cross River State Water Board |
| CRUTECH | Cross River University of Technology |
| CSO | Chief Security Officer |
| CUDA | Calabar Urban Development Authority |
| DCO | Divisional Crime Officer |
| DESOPADEC | Delta State Oil Producing Areas Commission |
| DGSA | Director General Services and Administration |
| DIG | Deputy Inspector General |
| DPA | Democratic Peoples Alliance |
| DPO | Divisional Police Officer |
| DPP | Democratic People’s Party |
| DPR | Department Petroleum Resources |
| DSP | Deputy Superintendent of Police |
| DSS | Department of State Security |
| DSSS | Department of Security Services |
| DWS | Drivers’ Welfare Scheme |
| EBSU | Ebonyi State University |
| ECOMOG | ECOWAS Monitoring Group |
| ECOWAS | Economic Community of West African States |
| EFCC | Economic and Financial Crimes Commission |
| ERGP | Economic Recovery and Growth Plan |
| ESUT | Enugu State University of Science and Technologies |
| EW | Early warning |
| FAAN | Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria |
| FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization |
| FCDA | Federal Capital Development Agency |
| FCE | Foundation for Co-Existence |
| FCT | Federal CapitalTerritory |
| FCTA | Federal Capital Territory Administration |
| FEDSARS | Federal SARS |
| FERMA | Federal Road Management Agency |
| FFF | Freedom Freelance Fighters |
| FG | Federal Government |
| FGD | Focus group discussion |
| FHA | Federal Housing Auhority |
| FIB | Federal Investigation Bureau |
| FICD | Force Criminal Investigation Department |
| FJHD | Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence |
| FMC | Federal Medical Center |
| FNDIC | Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities |
| FOU | Federal Operations Unit |
| FPSO | Floating Production Storage and Offloading |
| FRCN | Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria |
| FRSC | Federal Road Safety Commission |
| FUAM | Federal University of Agriculture of Makurdi |
| FUT | Federal University of Technology |
| FUTA | Federal University of Technology Akure |
| FUTO | Federal University of Technology Owerri |
| GIHL | Global Infrastructure Holding Limited |
| GOC | General Officer Commanding |
| GPRS | General Pocket Radio Service |
| GRA | Government Reservation Area |
| GTB | Guarantee Trust Bank |
| HNDC | Hope for Nigeria Delta Campaign |
| HQ | Headquarters |
| IAS | Institute of African Studies |
| IATA | International Air Transport Association |
| ICAN | Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria |
| ICAO | International Civil Aviation Organization |
| ICC | International Conference Center |
| ICCES | Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security |
| ICD | Initiative for Community Development |
| ICT | Information and Communication Technology |
| IDPs | Internally Displaced Persons |
| IEDs | Improvised Explosive Devices |
| IFRA | Institute for Research in Africa |
| IGP | Inspector General of Police |
| ILRI | International Livestock Research Institute |
| ILS | Instrument Landing System |
| IM | Independent Marketer |
| IMF | International Monetary Fund |
| IMSU | Imo State University |
| IMT | Institute of Management and Technology |
| IMTF | Inter-Ministerial Task Force |
| INEC | Independant National Electoral Commission |
| INGO | International NGO |
| INTELS | Integrated Logistics Services |
| IOM | International Organization for Migration |
| IPMAN | Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria |
| IPMAN | Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria |
| IPP | Independent Power Plant |
| IRIN | Integrated Regional Information Networks |
| ISPs | Internet Service Providers |
| IYC | Ijaw Youth Council |
| JAAIDS | Journalists Against AIDS |
| JASLWJ | Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad |
| JIC | Joint Islamic Committee |
| JPT | Joint Patrol Team |
| JRC | Joint Revolutionary Council |
| JTF | Joint Task Force |
| KAI | Kick Against Indiscipline |
| KRPC | Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company |
| KVA | Kilo Volt Ampere |
| LASPOTECH | Lagos State Polytechnic |
| LASTMA | Lagos State Traffic Management Autority |
| LASU | Lagos State University |
| LAUTECH | Ladoke Akintola University of Technology |
| LAWMA | Lagos State Waste Management Authority |
| LCDA | Local Development Area Council |
| LGA | Local Government Area |
| LNG | Liquefied Natural Gas |
| LP | Labour Party |
| LPG | Liquefied Petroleum Gas |
| LSFSC | Lagos State Ferry Services Corporation |
| LUTH | Lagos University Teaching Hospital |
| MACBAN | Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria |
| MAKIA | Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport |
| MAN | Manufacturers Association of Nigeria |
| MASSOB | Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra |
| MEND | Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta |
| MJTF | Multinational Joint Task Force |
| MMIA | Murtala Mohammed International Airport |
| MNJTF | Multi-National Joint Task Force |
| MOBNP | Ministry of Budget and National Planning |
| MOF | Ministry of Finance |
| MoFA | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| MOM | Major Oil Marketer |
| MOPOL | Mobile Police |
| MOSOP | Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People |
| MoU | Memorandum of Understanding |
| MOU | Memorandum of Understanding |
| MT | Metric Tons |
| MW | Megawatt |
| N/A | Not Available |
| NADP | Nasarawa State Agricultural Development Programme |
| NAEME | Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineer |
| NAF | Nigerian Air Force |
| NAFDAC | National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control |
| NAFEST | National Festival of Arts and Culture |
| NAGAFF | Non-Governmental Organization |
| NAHCO | Nigeria Aviation Handling Company |
| NAMA | National Airspace Management Agency |
| NAN | News Agency of Nigeria |
| NANS | National Association of Nigeria Students |
| NAOC | Nigerian Agip Oil Company |
| NARTO | National Association of Road Transport Owners |
| NASFAT | Nasrul-Lahi-il Fathi |
| NBA | Nigeria Bar Association |
| NBC | National Boundary Commission |
| NBC | National Broadcasting Commission |
| NBER | National Bureau of Economic Research |
| NBS | National Bureau for Statistics |
| NCAA | Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority |
| NCRI | National Cereals Research Institute |
| NCS | National Customs Service |
| NCS | Nigeria Customs Service |
| NDA | Nigerian Defence Academy |
| NDDC | Niger Delta Development Commission |
| NDI | National Democratic Institute |
| NDLEA | National Drug Law Enforcement Agency |
| NDPVF | Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force |
| NDRC | Nigeria Delta Reconciliation Council |
| NDU | Niger Delta University |
| NDV | Niger Delta Vigilante |
| NECO | National Examinations Council |
| NEMA | National Emergency Management Agency |
| NEMA | National Emergency Management Agency |
| NEPAD | New Partnership for Africa’s Development |
| NFI | Non-food Items |
| NFTWA | Nigeria Fishing Trawlers Workers Association |
| NGO | Peace and Conflict Studies |
| NGO | Non-governmental Organization |
| NHRC | National Human Rights Commission |
| NICIS | Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System |
| NIPCO | Nigeria Independent Petroleum Company |
| NIPOST | Nigerian Postal Service |
| NIS | Nigeria Immigration Service |
| NITEL | Nigerian Telecom Plc |
| NITOA | Nigerian Trawler Owners Association |
| NIWA | Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority |
| NJI | National Judicial Institute |
| NLC | Nigerian Labour Congress |
| NLDP | National Livestock Development Project |
| NLNG | Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas |
| NMA | National Maritime Authority |
| NNCAE | Nigerian National Council for Adult Education |
| NNPC | Nigerian National Petroleum Company |
| NNPC | Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation |
| NOPRIN | Network on Police Reform in Nigeria |
| NOUN | National Open University of Nigeria |
| NPA | Nigerian Ports Authority |
| NPC | National Population Commission |
| NPDC | National Petroleum Development Company |
| NPF | Nigeria Police Force |
| NRC | National Republican Convention |
| NSA | National Security Adviser |
| NSCDC | Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps |
| NSRP | Nigerian Stability and Reconciliation Programme |
| NTA | Nigerian Television Authority |
| NUATE | National Union of Air Transport Employees |
| NUJ | Nigeria Union of Journalists |
| NULGE | National Union of Local Government Employees |
| NUPENG | National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers |
| NURTW | National Union of Road Transport Workers |
| NUT | Nigeria Union of Teachers |
| NVRI | National Veterinary Research Institute |
| NYSC | National Youth Service Corps |
| OCHA | Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
| OECD | Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development |
| OFN | Operation Feed the Nation |
| OIC | Organisation of Islamic Conference |
| OMPADEC | Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission |
| OOU | Olabisi Onabanjo University |
| OPC | Oodua Peoples Congress |
| PAAR | Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (Customs) |
| PCNI | Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative |
| PCS | Senior Staff Association at the Nasarawa State University |
| PDP | People’s Democratic Party |
| PENGASSAN | Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association |
| PHCN | Power Holding Company |
| PIB | Petroleum Industry Bill |
| PMAN | Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria |
| PMF | Police Mobile Force |
| PMS | Premium Motor Spirit |
| PMT | Peace Mass Transit |
| POWA | Police Officers Wives Association |
| PPA | Programme Peoples Alliance |
| PPMC | Pipeline Products Marketing Company |
| PPPRA | Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority |
| PPRO | Police Public Relations Officer |
| PRIO | Peace Research Institute in Oslo |
| PRP | Peoples Redemption Party |
| PSF | Petroleum Support Fund |
| PTD | Petroleum Tankers Drivers |
| QRS | Quick Response Squad |
| RoRo | Roll on Roll off |
| RRS | Rapid Response Squad |
| RSSDA | Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency |
| RSUST | Rivers State University of Science and Technology |
| RTC | Road Traffic Crashes |
| RTEAN | Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria |
| RTOAN | Road Transport Owners Association of Nigeria |
| SAHCO | Skyway Aviation Handling Company |
| SAP | Structural Adjustment Policy |
| SARS | Special Anti-Robbery Squad |
| SCID | State Criminal Investigation Department |
| SCID | State Criminal Investigation Department |
| SDP | Social Democratic Party |
| SDV | SCAC-Delmas-Vieljeux |
| SEC | Supreme Eye Confraternity |
| SEMA | State Emergency Management Agency |
| SEMA | State Emergency Management Agency |
| SERA | State Emergency Relief Agency |
| SONCAP | Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme |
| SOS | Swift Operation Squad |
| SPDC | Shell Petroleum Development Company |
| SSANU | Senior Staff Associationat the Nasarawa State University |
| SSATP | Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Policy Program |
| SSC | Special Strike Code |
| SSG | Secretary to the State Government |
| SSS | State Security Service |
| SSS | State Security Service |
| STF | Special Task Force |
| STF | Special Task Force |
| SUBEB | State Universal Basic Education Board |
| SUG | Students’ Union Government |
| T | Tons |
| TASUED | Tai Solarin University of Education |
| TRACE | Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corp |
| TUC | Trade Union Congress |
| UBA | United Bank of Africa |
| UBN | Union Bank of Nigeria |
| UBTH | University of Benin Teaching Hospital |
| UCH | University College Hospital |
| UI | University of Ibadan |
| UITH | University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital |
| UME | University Matriculation Examinations |
| UN | United Nations |
| UNAD | University of Ado-Ekiti |
| UNAIDS | Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS |
| UNCT | United Nations Country Team |
| UNDP | United Nations Development Programme |
| UNEC | University of Nigeria Enugu Campus |
| UNEP | United Nations Environmental Programme |
| UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |
| UNFPA | United Nations Population Fund |
| UNHAS | United Nations Humanitarian Air Service |
| UNHCR | United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |
| UniAbuja | University of Abuja |
| UNIBEN | University of Benin |
| UNICEF | United Nations Children’s Fund |
| UNIPORT | University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital |
| UNIUYO | University of Uyo |
| UNIZIK | Nnamdi Azikiwe University |
| UNN | University of Nigeria Nsukka |
| UPTH | University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital |
| UPU | Urhobo Progress Union |
| UUTH | University of Uyo Teaching Hospital |
| V-SAT | Very Smart Aperture Terminal |
| VOR | VHF omnidirectional radio range |
| WAMCO | West Africa Milk Company |
| WASH | Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
| WCO | World Customs Organization |
| WEMPCO | Western Metal Products Company |
| WFP | World Food Programme |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| WVI | World Vision International |
Wrap-up
And that was it! A list of 300+ abbreviations commonly used in Nigeria. But, there’s still more. If YOU know any that has not been added here, please drop it in the comments below as it might be of help to others searching for the meaning.
Abdulbasit Toriola is an emerging voice in Nigerian cultural commentary and social analysis. From his corner in Lagos, he documents Nigerian history, current affairs, and explores the extraordinary journeys of Nigerians beating the odds. His works have been published on Africa Prime News and Opinion Nigeria. Connect with Abdulbasit on Twitter @blackboymusings for daily insights into Nigerian life and culture.
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This is educative, Thanks to blackgeeks