Upfirst

Grow Your Business With a Nigerian Number and Smart AI Receptionist

Take messages

Capture every enquiry, even after hours. Upfirst records all your callers’ messages and sends them instantly to you by WhatsApp, SMS, or email.

Answer questions

Give clear, instant answers to callers’ most common questions—like your opening hours, services, or location—so your customers stay informed and impressed.

Illustration of an AI answering service in action, showing a smartphone screen with a caller and chat bubbles where the AI answers calls, books appointments, and collects caller information.

Book appointments

Never miss an appointment again. Our AI can send callers your scheduling link or collect their preferred date and time, making booking simple and hassle-free.

Transfer calls

Set rules for important calls. With Upfirst, you can easily transfer VIP callers or urgent requests directly to your phone or a staff member, so opportunities never slip by.

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Nigerian virtual receptionist

How to set up your answering service in Nigeria

Get a professional AI receptionist who speaks English, answers every call, and helps your business run smoothly—day or night.

1. Add your information

Tell us about your business and how you want your calls handled. You can easily add instructions for greetings, call transfers, messages, or appointment bookings.

Upfirst AI receptionist setup screen showing how a real estate agent can add info about showing availability and buyer/seller services.

2. Set the rules

Pick a local Nigerian phone number with your preferred area code. If you need a special area code or a toll-free line, our support team will guide you through the setup and let you know if any extra documents, like a proof of address or business license, are needed.

Call transfer rule setup for a real estate agent, showing how to forward tour requests or property inquiries to a mobile number.

3. Forward your calls

Start receiving calls instantly. Your AI receptionist will answer every call 24/7, send you call summaries by text or email, and ensure you never miss an important opportunity.

AI receptionist greeting an incoming call for Lemon Tree Real Estate, demonstrating 24/7 answering service for realtors.

4. Never miss a call again

Whether it’s a new buyer, seller, or tenant calling, your AI answering service answers 24/7. You’ll get a detailed call summary by text and email so you can follow up fast.

Call summary and transcript of a real estate lead asking about a 3-bedroom home, showing how Upfirst captures buyer inquiries for real estate agents.

Get a Nigerian phone number

What information is needed to get a virtual number in Nigeria?

In Nigeria, local telecom regulations require a few documents to ensure your virtual phone number is registered to a legitimate business. Before we can activate your Nigerian number, you’ll need to provide:1. **Certificate of incorporation** (to prove your business is registered)2. **Letter of Intent (LOI)** (a short letter explaining your intended use for the number)3. **Proof of physical address in Nigeria** (such as a utility bill or lease agreement)4. **Your use case** (a brief description of how you’ll use the number)Once your number is set up, you can easily forward calls from your existing phone number—so that your Upfirst AI receptionist can answer every call, professionally and reliably.

key features

Get your Nigerian number to unlock your AI receptionist

We bring feature-packed call answering to small businesses in Nigeria, helping you look professional and never miss a call.

24/7 live call answering

Stay connected around the clock. Answer every call and capture leads automatically even when you're busy or out of office.

Bilingual receptionist

Talk to callers in Hausa, Yoruba, English, and 90+ other languages. Easily connect with customers in their preferred language and grow your business.

Lead capture

Collect lead details the moment they call. Qualify leads and tell us the right questions to ask callers.

Appointment scheduling

Let your realtor virtual receptionist set up showings and appointments. Send calendar links live on the call to interested clients.

Customized scripting

Shape every conversation whether the caller is a seller, buyer, landlords, or even tenants. Customize call handling how you want.

Call forwarding

Forward calls fast to the right person. Set up call routing rules and transfer callers when it matches your criteria.

Emergency dispatching

Handle urgent tenant calls without delay. Dispatch them to the appropriate on-call maintenance worker.

Detailed call summaries

Receive detailed summary of each call, allowing you to follow up effectively. Upfirst also captures a recording and the full transcript, just in case.

Nigeria answering service FAQs

Have a question that isn't answered here? Get in touch with our team.

How does my business benefit from your answering service?

Our answering service ensures you never miss a call from your customers, even outside business hours. Friendly, professional agents handle calls in your company’s name—taking messages, forwarding urgent calls, and scheduling appointments as needed. This helps you improve customer experience, boost your reputation, and free up time so you can focus on growing your business.

How long does it take to get set up with a local Nigeria number?

To get a local Nigeria number, you’ll need to provide some basic business documentation: a Certificate of Incorporation, Letter of Intent (LOI), proof of a physical address in Nigeria, and your intended use case. Once we have these documents, setup typically takes about 15 business days. Our team will guide you through every step to make the process as smooth as possible.

Do your answering agents speak multiple languages?

Yes! Many of our agents are bilingual or multilingual, with support available in English and other major languages like French and Arabic. If your business serves a diverse audience, just let us know your language preferences—we’ll match you with agents who can best support your customers.

Can you integrate with my current systems or CRM?

Absolutely. Our service can integrate with most popular CRMs and business tools, ensuring messages, call notes, and appointments are automatically updated where you need them. We also support SIP connections and cloud platforms, making it easy for your team to stay organized and respond quickly.

Nigeria virtual phone numbers with AI answering