# Get an API key and make a first call

Keep your code: point an OpenAI SDK at Nija and change only the base URL and the key.

## How do I get an API key?

Sign in, open Keys, give the key a name, leave the type on Inference and press Create key.

Copy the key straight away and keep it secret: Nija shows it to you once.

- [Keys](https://nija.africa/keys)

## How do I make my first call?

Send a Chat Completions request to https://nija.africa/v1 with the key as the bearer token.

Code that already uses an OpenAI SDK needs only the base URL and the key changed. The API docs cover streaming, tool calls and model routing.

- [API docs](https://nija.africa/docs)

## What does an API call cost?

An API call uses credits from the same balance as the chat, at the per-token price of the model, and Nija adds nothing to what you send.

## Can an agent connect over MCP?

Yes: the MCP server at https://nija.africa/mcp accepts the same inference key, and the MCP quickstart shows how to configure a client.

- [Connect an agent over MCP](https://nija.africa/help/connect-an-agent-over-mcp)
- [MCP quickstart](https://nija.africa/docs/mcp)

## How do I stop a key from working?

On Keys, press Disable to switch a key off until you press Enable, or Revoke to retire it, and either way the key is refused from its very next call.

A revoked key is kept rather than erased: list your revoked keys again and Enable brings one back with the same secret.

A key Nija's team switched off cannot be turned back on from Keys; open a support case about it.

- [Keys](https://nija.africa/keys)