The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has issued an updated travel advisory warning British citizens against travelling to several parts of Nigeria, citing growing insecurity, terrorism, kidnappings, and violent crime across multiple regions.
In the latest guidance published on the UK government’s website, the FCDO stated that “insecurity is increasing across Nigeria,” adding that kidnapping, intercommunal violence, and armed attacks are widespread.
The advisory urged British nationals to exercise extreme caution, stay informed through local media, and ensure that safety and evacuation plans are in place.
The FCDO advised against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara states, warning of a “high and increasing threat from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa,” particularly near transport hubs, religious sites, and large public gatherings.
It also cautioned that humanitarian workers, vehicles, and infrastructure “can be targeted by terrorists and criminals.”
In addition, the UK government recommended 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.
The advisory noted that violent crime, often involving firearms, has expanded “from the outer suburbs to more central, wealthier areas” of the capital.
British government personnel in Nigeria have been directed to limit movement to areas within the Abuja metropolitan zone, reflecting heightened security concerns.
The FCDO also warned that protests in Abuja “can turn violent,” urging visitors to avoid demonstrations, follow police instructions, and monitor local developments closely.
The advisory described the situation in the North-East as particularly precarious, with “regular military operations ongoing in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states” and a persistent risk of retaliatory attacks.
Residents and visitors in Maiduguri were specifically warned that further deterioration in security could make it “extremely difficult to leave the city.”
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In the South-East and South-South, the UK cautioned against travel to the riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states, citing militant activity and a high risk of armed robbery, criminality, and kidnapping. It added that attacks on oil and gas infrastructure remain frequent in the Niger Delta.
The FCDO also highlighted the activities of secessionist groups in the South-East, warning that violent clashes with security forces are common. Although foreign nationals are not usually targeted, the advisory noted that travellers “could be caught in an attack.”
In the South-West, including Lagos, the UK government reported that violent crimes such as mugging, carjacking, and kidnapping “are common, particularly in larger cities.”
While major terrorist incidents are rare, Islamic State West Africa claimed responsibility for two attacks in 2022. Travellers were advised to remain cautious, especially on the Lagos mainland, and to avoid night travel.
The advisory concluded by urging British nationals in high-risk areas to remain alert and follow any security advice provided by local authorities, hotels, or employers, ensuring that contingency plans are updated.
Nigeria continues to grapple with a complex mix of security challenges from terrorism in the North-East and armed banditry in the North-West to separatist unrest in the South-East and militancy in the Niger Delta.
