The Australian government has issued a stern warning urging citizens to reconsider travel to Nigeria, citing a worsening security situation.
“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.”
In a statement released Tuesday, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) highlighted escalating risks, including terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime, and potential civil unrest.
The warning comes in the wake of troubling statistics from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, which reported over 2.2 million abductions between May 2023 and April 2024.
Ransom payments during this period totaled an estimated N2.2 trillion, as reported earlier by Africa Health Report, AHR with the North-West region accounting for the largest share of N1.2 trillion.
The advisory specifically noted the “high risk of terrorist attacks” across the country, driven by multiple militant groups.
These attacks could target foreigners, as well as large public gatherings such as those in hotels, bars, restaurants, and transport hubs.
“Reconsider your need to travel to Nigeria overall due to the volatile security situation,” the advisory read. “Potential targets include government buildings, places of worship, schools, and international organisations.”
It also singled out several Nigerian states as particularly dangerous, including Adamawa, Borno, and Kaduna, with Abuja, the capital, also marked as a high-risk area.
“Ransom payments have become a serious concern,” the DFAT statement added, noting the average ransom per incident was approximately N2.7 million.
The Australian government’s advisory underscores the growing security challenges that make Nigeria a dangerous destination for travelers at this time.
