By Ayo Kehinde
The governments of Canada and Australia have issued travel advisories, warning their citizens against non-essential travel to Nigeria due to the country’s volatile security situation. Both nations highlighted risks such as terrorism, crime, armed attacks, kidnappings, and inter-communal violence.
In a travel advisory published on its official website on Monday, the Canadian government emphasized the unpredictable security conditions across Nigeria, particularly in the capital, Abuja.
The advisory cited alarming figures from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which reported that between May 2023 and April 2024, an estimated 2,235,954 abductions occurred nationwide.
The average ransom paid per kidnapping was N2.7 million, amounting to a total of N2.2 trillion within the period.
Canada specifically warned its citizens to avoid travel to, “The northwestern states, including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara, the north central states of Plateau, Niger, and Kogi, the northeastern states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Taraba, and Yobe
Others are, “The Niger Delta states, including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers (excluding Port Harcourt, where non-essential travel is also discouraged)
“Areas within 10 kilometers of borders with Cameroon, Niger, and northern Benin”
The advisory, however, advised citizens to “exercise a high degree of caution” when visiting the cities of Lagos and Calabar due to high crime rates.
Similarly, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in a December 20 travel notice, advised its citizens to reconsider travel to Nigeria overall. It identified states such as Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, and Zamfara as no-go areas due to the “volatile security situation.”
The advisory warned Australians of a high risk of terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime, stating, “There’s a heightened risk of terrorist attacks by various militant groups, with potential targets including public places, government buildings, places of worship, schools, and transport hubs.”
Adding to the warnings, the United States Embassy in Nigeria also released a security alert on December 20, cautioning Americans about heightened risks of terrorism during the holiday season.
The U.S. advisory urged citizens to increase situational awareness, avoid predictable routines, and review security precautions to minimize risks.
The advisories from Canada, Australia, and the United States reflect increasing international concerns over Nigeria’s security challenges, raising questions about the safety of residents and foreign nationals in the country.
