Who we are

About the Consulate

The Consulate General of Lebanon in Lagos serves Lebanese nationals and visa applicants across South West and South South Nigeria.

Message from the Consul General

His Excellency Mansour Chaya

"The Lebanese community has been part of Nigeria's story for more than 130 years. From the earliest traders who arrived in Lagos in the late 19th century to the entrepreneurs, builders, and professionals of today, Lebanese-Nigerians have contributed immensely to this country's development. The Consulate is here to serve and support that community, and to strengthen the bonds between our two nations."

His Excellency Mansour Chaya is a career diplomat with extensive international experience spanning Europe and Africa. Prior to his appointment in Lagos, he served as Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Lebanese Embassy in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein, based in Berne, where his work focused in particular on the humanitarian dimension of the Syrian crisis and its impact on Lebanon.

As Consul General in Lagos, he oversees consular services for the Lebanese community across South West and South South Nigeria. Since taking up the post he has worked to deepen institutional cooperation between Lebanon and Nigeria — including with the Nigeria Police Force on matters of transnational security — while reaffirming the Consulate's commitment to serving a community whose roots in the country stretch back more than a century.

His Excellency Mansour Chaya
Consul General of the Republic of Lebanon in Lagos
Consulate General of Lebanon · Victoria Island, Lagos
Flag of Lebanon

Our role

What a Consulate does

A consulate general handles consular services for citizens and visa applicants — it is distinct from an embassy, which manages diplomatic relations between governments. The Consulate General in Lagos handles all practical services for Lebanese nationals and visa applicants. Formal diplomatic matters are handled by the Embassy of Lebanon in Abuja.

Consulate — Lagos

Passports, visas, civil registration, notarial services, document legalisation, community support, and consular assistance to Lebanese nationals in distress.

Embassy — Abuja

Diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Nigeria, government-to-government matters, trade agreements, and policy coordination. Also serves Lebanese nationals in northern Nigeria.

Jurisdiction

The Lagos Consulate General covers the South West and South South geopolitical zones of Nigeria. This includes:

Lagos Ogun Oyo Osun Ondo Ekiti Rivers Bayelsa Cross River Akwa Ibom Delta Edo

For residents of other states, please contact the Embassy of Lebanon in Abuja.

History

Lebanon & Nigeria — a 130-year story

The Lebanese community in Nigeria is one of the oldest and most established diaspora communities in Africa, with roots stretching back to the final years of the 19th century.

1890

The first Lebanese arrival

Elias Khoury (also recorded as Ilyas Khoury) from Miziara in northern Lebanon arrived in Lagos, becoming the first Lebanese immigrant in Nigeria. He came as a trader and merchant, establishing a template that thousands would follow.

Early 1900s

Community formation

Lebanese immigrants established themselves as traders in Lagos and across the country, particularly in the importation of textiles and consumer goods. Community organisations including the Lebanese Union of Nigeria were formed to lobby colonial officials on the community's behalf.

1966

Maronite Church built in Lagos

The Lebanese community built a Maronite Church in Lagos, followed by churches in the eastern, western, and northern parts of the country — cementing the community's permanent roots in Nigerian society.

1973

Formal diplomatic relations

Nigeria formally established a diplomatic mission in Beirut, cementing the official relationship between the two nations. Since then, relations have progressed across shared positions on international issues including UN reform and economic cooperation.

1975

Lebanese Ladies Society of Nigeria

The Lebanese Ladies Society of Nigeria was established as a non-profit humanitarian organisation, providing scholarships to students and supporting orphans in Lagos — an enduring symbol of the community's contribution to Nigerian society.

1975–1990

Lebanese Civil War emigration

The Lebanese Civil War drove a second wave of emigration to Nigeria. Families joined existing community networks in Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt, further deepening Lebanese-Nigerian ties.

Today

A community of 30,000 – 100,000

The Lebanese community in Nigeria today numbers between 30,000 and 100,000 people — one of the largest non-Nigerian communities in the country and one of the largest Lebanese diaspora communities in Africa. Many families are now in their third or fourth generation in Nigeria.

Staff directory

Contact the right person

For faster service, contact the relevant section directly. For general enquiries not listed below, use the general email address.

H.E. Mansour Chaya
Consul General
Office: consulategeneral@
lebaneseconsulatelagos.com
Visa Section
Visa applications & enquiries
Apply via portal ↗
consulategeneral@
lebaneseconsulatelagos.com
Consular Section
Passports, civil registration, notarial
Apply via portal ↗
consulategeneral@
lebaneseconsulatelagos.com
General Enquiries
All other matters
Tel: +234 1 271 3881
consulategeneral@
lebaneseconsulatelagos.com