The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a new travel advisory warning British nationals against visiting six Nigerian states, citing worsening insecurity, terrorism, and kidnappings across multiple regions.
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In its updated Foreign Travel Advice published on GOV.UK and reviewed by our correspondent on Sunday, the FCDO stated that insecurity is spreading across the country, with kidnapping, violent crime, and intercommunal violence now occurring in all regions.
The FCDO specifically warned against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara States, noting a “high and increasing threat from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, particularly around transport hubs, religious areas, and large gatherings.”
It also advised against all but essential travel to Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, and Taraba States, as well as the outer suburbs of Abuja, due to the risk of violence spreading from the outskirts to central areas of the capital.
“Violent crime, often involving firearms, has increased and spread from the outer suburbs to more central, wealthier areas of the city,” the advisory warned, adding that British government staff in Nigeria have been directed to restrict their movements to the Abuja metropolitan area.
The FCDO highlighted frequent protests in the capital that could “turn violent,” urging citizens to monitor local media, avoid large gatherings, and follow the directions of security agencies.
The advisory described the North-East as particularly volatile, with ongoing military operations in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states and a persistent risk of retaliatory attacks. Residents in Maiduguri were warned that worsening security could make it “extremely difficult to leave the city.”
In the South-East and South-South, the FCDO advised against travel to the riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States, citing militant activity, attacks on oil infrastructure, and a high risk of kidnapping and armed robbery.
The agency also raised alarm over secessionist activities in the South-East, warning that clashes between separatist groups and security forces often lead to violence that could affect bystanders, including foreigners.
In the South-West, including Lagos, the advisory noted that crimes such as mugging, car-jacking, and armed robbery are common, especially in large cities. Though terrorist incidents are rare in the region, the FCDO recalled that “Islamic State West Africa claimed two attacks in 2022.”
Travellers were urged to avoid nighttime movement, especially on the Lagos mainland, and to stay alert to security advice from hotels, employers, or local hosts.
The FCDO concluded by advising anyone currently in high-risk areas to “review safety procedures and ensure contingency plans are up to date.”
Nigeria continues to face complex security challenges, from Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East to banditry in the North-West, separatist unrest in the South-East, and militancy in the Niger Delta. Despite government assurances of progress, the country remains one of the most security-volatile destinations in West Africa, according to international risk assessments.
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