How Long Does It Take to Repair a Bad Credit Score in Nigeria?

Struggling with a bad credit score in Nigeria? Find out how long it really takes to fix it, what steps matter most, and how Scorewise can speed up your recovery.

Fixing a bad credit score in Nigeria takes time, discipline, and smart planning. There’s no magic fix, but the good news is that real improvement is very possible if you are consistent.

On average, it can take between 6 months to 18 months to repair a bad credit score significantly. The exact time depends on how damaged your report is and how aggressively you work toward rebuilding it.

If your bad score is due to small mistakes like a few missed payments or high credit card utilization, you might start seeing positive changes within 6 to 9 months. However, if you have major issues like loan defaults, multiple unpaid debts, or court judgments linked to your financial profile, it could take 12 to 18 months or longer to recover.

Here’s what influences how fast your credit score improves:

• Payment history: Paying all bills, loans, and credit facilities on time consistently boosts your score over time. Even one missed payment can slow your progress.
• Debt reduction: Paying down existing debts, especially overdue ones, can quickly impact your credit profile positively.
• Credit mix: Having a healthy variety of credit, such as loans, credit cards, and service credits, and managing them well strengthens your report.
• New credit behavior: Avoiding new loan applications or inquiries for a while gives your credit score room to breathe and recover.
• Dispute errors: Sometimes, mistakes happen on your report. Correcting wrong information through the credit bureau can lead to faster improvements.

In Nigeria, credit bureaus like CRC Credit Bureau and FirstCentral Credit Bureau update their records every month based on the reports they receive from banks and financial institutions. This means positive activities like early loan repayments or full debt settlements can start reflecting after 30 to 60 days.

However, major negatives like loan defaults may stay on your credit report for up to 5 years even after you clear them. That’s why it’s better to start repairing your score now rather than later.

One of the smartest moves you can make is to monitor your credit consistently while you work on rebuilding it. Scorewise makes this easy by giving you instant access to your real-time credit score, showing you exactly where you stand. It doesn’t just show numbers, Scorewise analyzes your credit data, highlights problem areas affecting your score, and gives you clear, personalized recommendations on how to fix them. With Scorewise, you’re not just hoping your score will improve, you’re actively managing it with tools designed for Nigeria’s financial system.

Download Scorewise available on Apple store or playstore today to start rebuilding your credit score the smart way, and open the doors to better loans, lower interest rates, and more financial freedom in Nigeria!