The Australian government has advised its citizens to reconsider traveling to Nigeria due to a volatile security situation marked by terrorism, kidnapping, and the risk of civil unrest.
The warning, issued by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Tuesday, highlights the various security threats faced by foreigners and residents in Nigeria.
The advisory cites the high risk of terrorist attacks across the country, with militant groups targeting both local and foreign interests. Potential targets for attacks include crowded areas such as hotels, bars, restaurants, political gatherings, government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, sporting events, transport hubs, law enforcement facilities, international organizations, and camps for displaced persons.
The Australian government also specifically advised against traveling to several Nigerian states, including Adamawa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross Rivers, Delta, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara. The capital city of Abuja was also mentioned as a location to avoid unless absolutely necessary.
This travel warning follows recent data from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which revealed a staggering 2,235,954 abductions between May 2023 and April 2024. During this period, ransom payments amounted to an estimated N2.2 trillion, with the average ransom per incident reaching N2.7 million. The NBS report indicated that the North-West region accounted for the highest ransom payments, totaling N1.2 trillion, while the South-East region reported the lowest at N85.4 billion.
“Reconsider your need to travel to Nigeria overall due to the volatile security situation and threat of terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime, and the risk of civil unrest.
“There’s a high risk of terrorist attacks across Nigeria by various militant groups. Attacks could be indiscriminate or may target foreign interests.
“Potential targets include places where crowds gather, such as hotels, bars, restaurants, political meetings, government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, sporting events, transport hubs and networks, law enforcement facilities, international organisations and camps for displaced people.
“Reconsider your need to travel to Nigeria overall, including the capital Abuja.
“Do not travel to Adamawa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross Rivers, Delta, Federal Capital Territory (excluding Abuja), Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states,” parts of the travel advisory read.
