US Advises Citizens to Rethink Travel Plans to Nigeria Over Security and Healthcare Concerns
Americans are being warned again as Nigeria faces fresh travel caution due to worsening security.
Kidnapping fears, violent crimes, and poor health services prompt serious alerts from US officials.
The United States government has issued a fresh travel advisory urging its citizens to reconsider visiting Nigeria due to ongoing security issues and the unreliable state of healthcare services across the country.
In a recent update to its global travel advisory, the US included Nigeria among the countries in Africa where travelers face serious risks. The advisory highlighted threats such as kidnapping, terrorism, and the activities of armed criminal groups as key reasons for concern.
This advisory is part of the US government’s regular security assessments and is meant to guide its citizens who may be considering travel to parts of Africa. Nigeria is one of 12 African nations listed in the warning. Other countries named include Somalia, Libya, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, Chad, Uganda, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Burundi.
The advisory groups countries into four risk levels. Level Four means “Do Not Travel,” while Level Three, which applies to Nigeria, means “Reconsider Travel.” Both levels signal a high level of risk.
According to a statement released by the US Mission in Nigeria and published on its official website, every part of Nigeria poses security challenges. However, the advisory warned that 18 states are especially dangerous and should be completely avoided.
Specifically, Americans were told to stay away from Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and the northern part of Adamawa due to threats of terrorism and frequent kidnappings. States such as Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara were flagged due to repeated cases of abduction. In the South, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers were listed for concerns related to violent crime, abduction, and the presence of armed groups.
The US also noted that violent incidents such as assault, robbery, carjacking, and sexual violence are common across the country. The advisory stressed that many of the kidnappings involve dual citizens or US nationals believed to be financially well-off. These crimes often take place on major roads between states, the statement added.
In addition to security threats, the US government expressed concern about the inconsistent availability of proper healthcare in many parts of Nigeria, which could affect travelers in need of emergency services.
The advisory encourages US citizens to carefully assess their travel plans and stay informed of any new developments before visiting Nigeria.
