The FCDO advises against all travel to eight Nigerian states and against all but essential travel to several others, citing insecurity and kidnapping risks

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a fresh Nigeria travel warning, advising British nationals against all travel to eight states and against all but essential travel to several other parts of the country because of security risks.

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The updated guidance, published on the FCDO’s Nigeria travel advice page, places particular restrictions on parts of the North-East, North-West, North-Central and South-East and South-South regions.

The current advice also warns that insecurity, including kidnapping, violent crime and intercommunal violence, is increasing across Nigeria. (GOV.UK)

In the North-East, the UK advises against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states, while travel to Bauchi State is advised only when essential.

The FCDO attributes the warning in the North-East to a high and increasing threat from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, alongside a significant risk of kidnapping and violent attacks.

It said regular military operations were continuing in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, creating a risk of retaliatory attacks.

The warning is particularly significant for Maiduguri and other areas where British nationals, humanitarian workers and other foreign visitors may face difficulty leaving quickly if the security situation deteriorates.

In the North-West, the FCDO has placed Katsina and Zamfara states under an all-travel ban.

It advises against all but essential travel to Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa and Sokoto states, citing frequent bandit attacks, kidnapping and intercommunal violence. The guidance also warns that trains and major transport routes can be vulnerable to attacks.

The advisory extends into North-Central Nigeria.

The UK advises against all but essential travel to Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Kwara and Benue states, citing criminal and militant activity and incidents of intercommunal violence.

The FCDO separately warns that parts of the Federal Capital Territory, including outer areas of Abuja, are prone to varying levels of violence.

It said violent crime, including firearm-related incidents, had increased and spread from outer suburbs towards more central areas of the capital. It also advised British nationals to exercise caution, avoid demonstrations and large gatherings and monitor local information.

The advisory also carries specific restrictions for the South-East and South-South.

The UK advises against all travel to riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. The restriction specifically concerns river and swamp locations accessible by boat but not by road.

For Abia, Anambra and Imo states, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel.

The same restriction applies to non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states.

The FCDO says militant groups remain active in the Niger Delta and have carried out attacks against oil and gas infrastructure, while armed robbery, criminality and kidnapping pose significant risks.

In the South-East, the UK also cites the activities of secessionist groups and violent clashes involving security forces as reasons for its heightened travel advice.

The warning does not amount to a blanket restriction on travel throughout Nigeria. The FCDO’s guidance varies considerably by location, reflecting differences in the security situation between regions and even between different parts of individual states.

The agency’s broader security advice, however, warns that kidnapping can occur anywhere in Nigeria and that British nationals may be targeted because of their perceived wealth or nationality.

It also advises travellers to limit movement after dark, avoid predictable travel patterns and remain alert to changes in local security conditions.

Terrorism remains a central concern in the British assessment.

The FCDO says terrorists are very likely to attempt attacks in Nigeria, with Islamic State West Africa and Boko Haram identified as the principal terrorist threats.

It warns that attacks could be indiscriminate and occur without warning in places such as markets, places of worship, hotels, transport hubs, government facilities and other locations visited by foreign nationals.

Kidnapping is another major element of the warning.

According to the FCDO, terrorist groups are highly likely to carry out kidnappings in Nigeria, while criminal kidnapping remains widespread.

The agency says foreign nationals, including tourists, humanitarian workers, journalists and business travellers, can be regarded as legitimate targets.

The travel advice also highlights risks associated with road transportation.

The FCDO warns that road travel can be dangerous because of poor road conditions, vehicle safety concerns, driving standards and criminal activity. It advises travellers to limit journeys after dark outside city centres and exercise particular caution on rural roads.

The latest guidance comes as Nigeria continues to confront a complex security landscape involving terrorism in the North-East, banditry and kidnapping in parts of the North-West, communal violence in several states and militant and separatist activity in parts of the South.

The FCDO also warns British nationals to exercise caution during periods of heightened political activity. It says protests and demonstrations can occur with little notice and may become violent, while election periods can bring additional security risks.

For British travellers, the warning also carries financial implications.

The FCDO states that travel insurance could be invalidated if a person travels against its official advice, making it important for travellers to check the restrictions applying to their intended destination before making arrangements.

The guidance remains advisory rather than a Nigerian government travel restriction. It is intended primarily to help British nationals assess risks before and during travel.

The breadth of the latest restrictions nevertheless provides a striking snapshot of the UK’s assessment of Nigeria’s current security environment.

While several major Nigerian cities and large parts of the South-West remain outside the areas covered by the strongest restrictions, the FCDO continues to urge travellers across the country to exercise caution, monitor developments and follow advice from local authorities.

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For anyone planning to travel to Nigeria, the distinction between areas subject to an all-travel ban and those where only essential travel is advised remains crucial.