Nigeria Rejects US Travel Warning, Says Report Unbalanced

The Federal Government has described the recent United States travel advisory on Nigeria as unbalanced, urging international partners to provide more accurate and up-to-date assessments of the country’s security situation.

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Naija News reports that the US government had authorised the departure of non-essential personnel from its embassy in Abuja and advised Americans to avoid travelling to Nigeria over security concerns.

Reacting to the development on Thursday, a spokesperson to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, Rabiu Ibrahim, said the advisory did not fully reflect the security progress being made in the country.

“We encourage our international partners to continuously engage with Nigerian authorities to obtain a more comprehensive and current understanding of the situation on the ground,” Ibrahim wrote in a statement posted on X.

The US State Department, citing security challenges across parts of Nigeria, urged American citizens to avoid travelling to several states across the country.

It also directed non-essential embassy officials to depart Nigeria as a precautionary measure.

According to the advisory, the security situation varies significantly across different states.

The US listed Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Kogi, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina among states considered to have higher security risks.

Other states mentioned include Sokoto, Zamfara, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo and Rivers.

“Do not travel to these areas for any reason. The security situation in these states is unstable and uncertain. This is because of widespread terrorist activity, violence between communities, and kidnapping,” the US advisory stated.

It also warned that security operations to counter threats in affected areas could occur without warning.

Responding to the advisory, the Federal Government said the decision by the US was a routine precautionary measure based on internal protocols rather than an accurate reflection of the country’s overall security situation.

According to the government, public institutions and economic activities remain fully operational across Nigeria.

“While we acknowledge isolated security challenges in some areas, there is no general breakdown of law and order, and the vast majority of the country remains stable,” Idris said.

He noted that ongoing military operations and intelligence-led interventions have continued to weaken criminal networks and armed groups operating in parts of the country.

“Our security agencies remain actively engaged in protecting lives and property, and the results of these efforts are increasingly evident,” he added.

The Information Minister also stressed that Nigeria remains open to travel, investment and international partnerships.

He said economic reforms introduced by the government are improving investor confidence and strengthening the country’s global standing.

According to Idris, international partners and investors continue to maintain strong engagement with Nigeria, reflecting confidence in the country’s stability and economic prospects.

“Nigeria remains open for business, travel and investment,” the minister said.

While acknowledging the right of countries to issue travel advisories for their citizens, the Federal Government urged international partners to ensure that such advisories reflect balanced and updated information.

“We encourage our international partners to continuously engage with Nigerian authorities to obtain a more comprehensive and current understanding of the situation on the ground,” Ibrahim stated.