The United States government has issued a stringent travel advisory warning its citizens against traveling to 18 Nigerian states, citing elevated risks of terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime by armed gangs, civil unrest, and unreliable healthcare systems under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The advisory, published by the US Mission in Nigeria on its official website in July 2025, urges Americans to reconsider any planned trips to Nigeria, emphasizing that all parts of the country carry significant security risks.
The advisory categorizes these 18 states at Level 4: Do Not Travel, the highest threat level, urging Americans to avoid these areas entirely due to severe security concerns.
States Americans are advised not to travel to due to terrorism and kidnapping:
- Borno
- Yobe
- Kogi
- Northern Adamawa
States flagged due to high kidnapping risks:
5. Bauchi
6. Gombe
7. Kaduna
8. Kano
9. Katsina
10. Sokoto
11. Zamfara
States dangerous due to crime, kidnapping, and armed gangs:
12. Abia
13. Anambra
14. Bayelsa
15. Delta
16. Enugu
17. Imo
18. Rivers (except Port Harcourt)
The advisory highlights a prevalent pattern of violent crime across the country, including armed robbery, assault, carjacking, hostage-taking, and frequent kidnappings for ransom, particularly targeting dual nationals and wealthy U.S. citizens. Interstate roads have become hazardous due to kidnapping gangs stopping travelers. Civil unrest and terrorist activities have destabilized key regions, particularly in the Northeast, where about two million Nigerians have been displaced.
In addition to security concerns, the US government warned about the poor state of healthcare in Nigeria. It stated that American travelers should not expect healthcare services comparable to those available in the United States. The advisory mentioned shortages of routine medicines, unreliable emergency medical services, and risks of counterfeit drugs, urging travelers to bring all necessary medications, update vaccinations, purchase medical evacuation insurance, and prepare contingency plans for medical emergencies.
For those choosing to travel despite the risks, the advisory recommends maintaining vigilance by carrying proper identification, avoiding large gatherings, and registering with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive important updates and allow the US government to track travelers’ locations in case of emergencies.
While the US travel advisory applies to the entire nation due to overall high risk, it distinctly singles out the 18 states listed above as areas of particular danger and strongly discourages travel to them for any reason
