By: Tunde Ajayi / 29 January 2026
Magazine Blog : Online Dating Safety Guides : New to Online Dating : Online Dating
Let us be honest. Online dating in Nigeria is now part of everyday life. From busy Lagos schedules to quiet evenings in Enugu or Ilorin, people are meeting online because life no too give chance again. You swipe a little, chat small, and before you know it, feelings enter. Sometimes it works beautifully. Other times, not so much.
If you are new to online dating, welcome. Everybody needs love and companionship. But in Nigeria, online dating safety is not something to joke around with. Not because love is bad, but because not everybody online is who they say they are.
This article is not here to scare you. It is to guide you. Think of it as that calm older cousin who has seen things and just wants you to be alright.
Your Profile Is Not a Confession Room
Your profile should protect you, not expose you. Avoid sharing too much personal information on it. No house address. No office location. No phone number boldly written.
Use clear photos. But avoid pictures that show landmarks close to your house or places you go every day. That fine selfie in front of your compound gate might feel harmless, but someone else can read more into it. Online dating safety begins with small discipline.
Chatting Without Losing Your Guard
This is where most people relax and loose their guard. The excitement of someone showing interest can make common sense leave the body. You chat day and night. You laugh. You overshare. You start telling life stories by day three.
Slow down. Genuine connection does not need speed.
In Nigeria, scammers often rush intimacy. They call you “my wife” or “my husband” quickly. They say things like “I have never felt this way before” after two conversations. Romance is sweet, but safety is sweeter.
If someone is pushing emotional closeness too fast, pause and observe. Online dating safety is about patience.
Inconsistencies Are Not Small Things
Pay attention to details. Someone says they live in Abuja but their stories sound like someone who has never entered the city. Or they claim to work offshore, but they are always online and never busy.
Ask simple questions. Not interrogation. Just conversation. Truth is consistent. Lies get tired.
If stories keep changing, take note. Do not explain it away because you like the person. Safety comes before feelings.
Money Stories That Should Make You Pause
This is a big one. The story can be anything. Business deal went wrong. Family member sick. Wallet missing. Crypto opportunity. Emergency that only you can solve.
Online dating safety rule number one. Do not send money. Not airtime. Not transfer. Not “just small help.”
Even if you have been chatting for weeks. Even if you do voice notes and video calls. Even if they sound sincere. Once money enters, manipulation often follows.
A real-life example. A young woman in Ibadan met someone online. He was polite, educated, very consistent. After one month, he said his business funds were stuck. She sent a small amount. Then another. Then another. He later disappeared. The shame hurt more than the money.
Meeting Offline Trouble Free
This is where excitement and danger can shake hands if you are not careful.
Always meet in a public place. Busy place. Restaurant. Mall. Event center. Somewhere people are moving around. Not a private house. Not a hotel room. Not “come over, I will cook.” That can wait.
Tell someone you trust where you are going. Share your location. Share the profile of the person you are meeting. This is not paranoia. This is wisdom. Online dating safety includes letting someone know your movement.
Arrange your own transport. Do not let the person pick you up from your house on the first meeting. You should always have an easy exit.
Alcohol, Pressure, and Clear Boundaries
Many first dates involve drinks. Be careful. Do not indulge. Do not leave your drink unattended. Your safety is more important than looking relaxed.
Respect your boundaries and watch how the other person reacts. If you say no and they push, joke it away, or guilt-trip you, that is not affection. That is control trying to wear love clothes.
Online dating safety is also emotional safety.
Fake Pictures and Online Pretending
Some people are not using their real photos. Reverse image search can save you stress. If someone avoids video calls or always has excuses, take note.
Not every red flag is loud. Some are quiet and consistent.
For men too, this matters. Safety is not only for women. There have been cases of men being set up, extorted, or lured into danger. Be careful with sharing financial details or meeting in strange locations at odd hours.
When Something Goes Wrong, Speak
If something feels off, step back. You are allowed to. There is no prize for endurance.
If something goes wrong, report the profile. Talk to someone you trust. Do not carry shame that is not yours.
Being cautious does not mean being fearful. It means valuing your life.
Love Is Good, Safety Is Better
Online dating can lead to beautiful relationships. Many people in Nigeria have met their partners online and built real homes and real families. But they paid attention. They asked questions. They moved with common sense.
As a first-time user, your goal is not to impress everybody. Your goal is to stay safe while being open to connection.
Online dating safety is not a one-time rule. It is a mindset. Carry it with you. Always.