US Warns Citizens to Reconsider Travel to Nigeria Over Security, Healthcare Concerns
The United States government has issued a fresh travel advisory, urging its citizens to reconsider any planned trips to Nigeria due to rising insecurity and inadequate healthcare services.
In the updated advisory published on the website of the US Mission in Nigeria, the State Department cited threats including terrorism, kidnapping, armed gangs, violent crime, civil unrest, and the limited availability of quality healthcare across the country.
“All locations in Nigeria carry significant security risks,” the statement read. It classified the country as Level Three — “Reconsider Travel” — in its global four-tier risk rating system. Level Four is the highest and means “Do Not Travel.”
The advisory also listed 18 Nigerian states that Americans should avoid entirely. These include:
- Due to terrorism and kidnapping: Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and northern Adamawa
- Due to kidnapping: Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara
- Due to crime, kidnapping, and armed gangs: Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers
The advisory warned of widespread violent crimes, including armed robbery, carjacking, roadside banditry, and r@pe. Kidnapping for ransom remains common, particularly targeting dual nationals or Americans perceived to be wealthy, with many incidents occurring along interstate roads.
It also raised alarms over continued terrorist threats across the country, noting that attacks could occur with little or no warning in crowded areas such as malls, markets, schools, government buildings, and transportation hubs. The statement pointed to growing collaboration between terrorist groups and local gangs to expand their reach.
On healthcare, the advisory noted that medical services in Nigeria often fall short of U.S. or European standards. It warned that many hospitals lack basic medications, including those for diabetes and asthma, and emphasized the risk of counterfeit drugs. It advised travelers to bring all necessary prescription and over-the-counter medications and update routine and travel-related vaccinations.
“Emergency services similar to those in the U.S. or Europe do not exist in Nigeria. Ambulance services are often poorly equipped and lack trained personnel. Blood supplies are unreliable, and hospitals typically require immediate cash payments,” the statement added.
Americans planning to travel to Nigeria were strongly advised to obtain comprehensive travel and medical evacuation insurance ahead of their trips.
Nigeria was listed alongside 11 other African countries marked as high-risk destinations in the advisory, including Somalia, Libya, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
