US puts many Nigerian states on ‘Do Not Travel’ list, warns Americans 

By Paul Dada

The United States Department of State has released an updated travel advisory on Nigeria.

It has also warned Americans to reconsider travel to the country due to what it sees as the country’s worsening security concerns, including crime, terrorism, civil unrest and unreliable healthcare services.

In the advisory released on April 8, 2026, the State Department places disclosed that it had “authorised non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave U.S. Embassy Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation.”

It insisted that “violent crime is common throughout Nigeria, while” listing offences such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage-taking and rape.

According to the statement, “kidnappings for ransom happen often,” with criminals frequently targeting dual nationals and foreigners perceived to be wealthy.

According to the advisory, kidnapping gangs have increasingly blocked interstate roads to abduct victims, even as it added  that “Americans are perceived as wealthy and are often targets of crime and kidnapping.”

On terrorism, the Department said that “terrorists continue plotting and carrying out attacks in Nigeria,” often working with local gangs.

It warned that attacks could occur “with little or no warning” in public places such as markets, shopping centres, places of worship, schools, hotels and transport hubs.

Large swathes of the country were placed under the strictest warning, Level 4: Do Not Travel. These include Borno, Yobe, Kogi and northern Adamawa states, as well as Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, Plateau and Taraba, where the Department said “the security situation… is unstable and uncertain” due to terrorism, communal violence and kidnapping.

The Department also listed states such as Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara under “Do Not Travel” due to “unrest, crime, and kidnapping,” while parts of southern Nigeria, including Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo and Rivers (excluding Port Harcourt), were flagged for high risks of crime, violent protests and armed gangs.

The advisory also highlighted unrest in the Niger Delta and South-East, noting that “civil unrest and armed gangs are active in parts of Southern Nigeria,” alongside recurring clashes between farmers and herders in rural communities.

The Department raised concerns  about healthcare services in Nigeria. It said “Nigerian medical facilities are generally not equipped to U.S. or European standards,” warning of shortages of essential medicines and unreliable emergency services.

It also said,  “counterfeit pharmaceuticals are a common problem,” and that hospitals often require immediate cash payments, with most facilities not accepting U.S. health insurance.

The said, “The U.S. government cannot offer emergency services to Americans in many areas of Nigeria due to the safety risks.”

It urged travellers to obtain comprehensive insurance, including medical evacuation cover, before visiting.