Australian Government Warns Citizens Against Travelling To Nigeria

The Australian Government has warned its citizens to reconsider travel plans to Nigeria due to escalating security concerns.

In a statement released on Tuesday, December 31, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) highlighted risks including terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime, and potential civil unrest as key reasons for the warning.

The government warned of potential attacks on crowded areas such as hotels, restaurants, markets, transport hubs, government buildings, schools, and places of worship

The advisory also emphasized avoiding travel to specific states, including Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Zamfara, and others, due to heightened risks.

The advisory stated: “Reconsider your need to travel to Nigeria overall due to the volatile security situation and threat of terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime, and the risk of civil unrest.

“There’s a high risk of terrorist attacks across Nigeria by various militant groups. Attacks could be indiscriminate or may target foreign interests.

“Potential targets include places where crowds gather, such as hotels, bars, restaurants, political meetings, government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, sporting events, transport hubs and networks, law enforcement facilities, international organisations and camps for displaced people.

“Reconsider your need to travel to Nigeria overall, including the capital Abuja.

“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.”

This caution follows recent data from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, revealing over 2.2 million reported kidnappings between May 2023 and April 2024.

During this period, ransom payments amounted to approximately N2.2 trillion, with an average of N2.7 million per case.

The North-West region recorded the highest ransom payments at N1.2 trillion, while the South-East reported the lowest at N85.4 billion.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Federal Government had warned Nigerians traveling to the United States, the United Kingdom and some European countries to beware of thieves targeting their personal belongings.