The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians and foreign nationals that security across the country is being strengthened, following a new travel advisory issued by the United Kingdom.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office warned against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara states due to rising violence, terrorism, and kidnappings.
It also advised limiting travel to Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, and parts of the Federal Capital Territory, citing violent crime and potential flashpoints such as protests.
Speaking to The Punch on Sunday, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said the government is “keenly aware of security challenges in parts of the country and is making efforts to address them and make every part of the country safe for citizens and foreigners alike.”
He added that President Bola Tinubu has recently restructured top security personnel and increased investments in military hardware and intelligence operations. “Our security challenges will soon be a thing of the past. All foreign nationals in Nigeria are guaranteed their safety as the government implements more effective security measures,” Idris said.
The Gombe State Government, however, rejected the UK advisory, calling it “unfounded and unfair.” Director-General of Press Affairs, Government House Gombe, Ismaila Misilli, said the state remains peaceful with no record of insurgency, communal conflict, or banditry in recent years. “We wonder what indices were used by the UK government. Gombe is safe, welcoming, and open for business and development,” he added.
Similarly, Kano State officials described the advisory as routine and said security forces are actively addressing threats. Chief Press Secretary Mustapha Muhammad said the UK may not be aware of local security strategies, including strategic military deployments to border areas.
Borno State also highlighted improvements in security. Governor Babagana Zulum’s Special Adviser on Security, General Abdullahi Ishaq (retd.), said Maiduguri is currently safer than Abuja in terms of insecurity. He noted that the Borno model has led to increased insurgent surrenders, facilitated by dialogue with their families, and that relative peace is reflected in higher agricultural output.
The UK advisory painted a concerning picture of Nigeria, particularly the North-East, warning that ongoing military operations in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe pose risks of retaliatory attacks. The South-East and South-South regions, including riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states, were flagged for militant activity, kidnappings, and criminality. The advisory also highlighted threats from separatist groups in the South-East and violent crimes in the South-West, including Lagos.
Travelers were urged to remain vigilant, follow local security advice, and keep safety and contingency plans up to date.
Nigeria’s security challenges stem from years of terrorism, banditry, separatist agitation, and communal conflicts. The Boko Haram insurgency continues in the North-East, armed banditry persists in the North-West and North-Central regions, separatist movements challenge the South-East, and militant attacks remain a threat in the Niger Delta.
Recently, US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing alleged threats to Christians and ordering the Pentagon to explore possible military measures. In response, Minister Idris stated that 17,000 terrorists are in custody and denied claims of persecution against Christians in Nigeria.
