The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a travel advisory cautioning British nationals against visiting 21 states in Nigeria due to escalating insecurity across the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that in the notice updated on October 21 and still valid as of Sunday, the FCDO stated that cases of kidnapping, violent crime, and intercommunal clashes have continued to spread across Nigeria.
The advisory discouraged all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Gombe states in the northeast, citing threats of retaliatory attacks amid ongoing military operations. It also advised that only essential travel should be made to Bauchi State, noting the “high and increasing threat from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa,” particularly around transportation hubs, religious centres, and large gatherings. Humanitarian workers and supplies were also identified as potential targets.
In the northwest, the UK government warned against all travel to Katsina and Zamfara states, where banditry, kidnappings, and violent attacks remain rampant. Similarly, it cautioned against non-essential travel to Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Sokoto.
The FCDO further extended its warning to parts of north-central Nigeria, advising against non-essential visits to Niger, Kogi, Plateau, and Taraba states. Abuja, the federal capital, was also flagged due to a rise in violent crimes — often involving firearms — which have reportedly spread from suburban areas into wealthier parts of the city. The advisory added that protests in the capital could turn violent without warning.
In the southeast, British nationals were urged to avoid non-essential travel to Abia, Anambra, and Imo states, as well as non-riverine parts of Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states, citing the presence of secessionist movements. For Lagos, the advisory highlighted a high rate of street crime, especially on the mainland.
A more detailed document from the FCDO also outlined broader concerns for British citizens in Nigeria. It warned against withdrawing cash from ATMs at night and cautioned travellers to beware of rising cases of romance and job-related scams.
The advisory also addressed reports of fraudulent fertility clinics and “miracle babies,” where unsuspecting visitors are deceived into believing they have given birth. It stressed that the UK has banned overseas adoptions from Nigeria and warned that bringing a non-biological child into the country without legal authorization could lead to prosecution and loss of citizenship rights for the child.
Additionally, the FCDO cautioned against consuming unlicensed alcoholic beverages after incidents of methanol poisoning led to deaths and severe illnesses in Nigeria. “Avoid drinking unlicensed products,” it said, noting that methanol cannot be detected by taste or smell.
The advisory concluded with a warning about dangerous swimming conditions along Nigeria’s coastline, pointing to rip tides and strong undertows that have resulted in drowning incidents.
