Objective To study the aetiological factors and clinical presentation of haematuria as seen in a tertiary healthcare centre in a developing country in Africa. Patients and methods The study comprised a retrospective review of the diagnostic indices and notes of patients with macroscopic haematuria presenting at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria, over a 7‐year period from 1985 to 1991. Results Of a total of 2726 urology patients and 11 232 surgical patients, 482 had haematuria (17.7% and 4.3%, respectively, 387 males and 95 females, ratio 4.1 : 1, mean age 44.8 years, range 6–80). Many presented late with advanced malignant disease (T3, T4). Investigations useful in the diagnosis were urinary cytology, intravenous urography and cysto‐urethroscopy. Common causes of haematuria were bladder carcinoma in 142 (31%), benign prostatic hypertrophy in 64 (14%) and urinary stones in 54 (12%). Conclusion Recurrent haematuria in patients over 30 years of age in this environment should be considered or deemed to be caused by malignancy until confirmed otherwise. An educational programme is required to alert the population to the significance of haematuria as a symptom demanding a thorough investigation before treatment. This would need support by a haematuria service for accelerated diagnosis and treatment.