UK tones down its Nigeria travel warning rescinding its designation of Abuja as a no go area

BRITAIN has rescinded its Nigerian travel warning toning down its earlier message calling on its citizens to refrain from all but essential travel to parts of Nigeria removing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja from its list of restricted areas.

Last week, Australia's government warned its citizens to avoid travelling to Nigeria as it is too dangerous a travel destination  at the moment due to a combination of the recent flooding that has ravaged large parts of the country and violent insecurity. In a notice posted on the website, Australia's consulate listed over 20 states including Abuja, the nation’s capital, which it told its citizens to avoid.

Several other foreign governments, including the UK and the US issued similar warnings to their citizens. Having reviews the situation, the UK through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has said that it no longer advised against all but essential travel to the FCT and the city centre Abuja but insisted that risks remain.

Making this known through a travel advice notice updated on its website, the Foreign Office still advised against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara states and the riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. It also advised against all but essential travel to Bauchi, Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto, Rivers,  Plateau, Taraba State and Kogi States.

Furthermore, the UK warned against travel within 20km of the border with Niger in Kebbi State, Abia State and the non-riverine areas of Delta and Bayelsa states.  It said: “The FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to the Federal Capital Territory, including the city of Abuja but risks remain and further details about the continued threat from terrorism in this region has been added.”

Earlier this month, the UK government had issued an alert that terrorists were very likely to try to carry out attacks in Nigeria, warning that most attacks were conducted by Boko Haram or Islamic State West Africa Province and occur in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in the northeast.  It further warned that the risk of terrorism across Nigeria includes Abuja and the surrounding Federal Capital Territory area.