Sub Saharan Africa

Terrorism/Security

There is increased tension in parts of northern Nigeria following clashes between militants and security forces in Bauchi State on 26 July 2009 which has extended to parts of Kano, Yobe, Katsina and Borno States on 27 July. A curfew is in force in Maiduguri between 21.00 and 06.00. If you are travelling in northern Nigeria you should take extra precautions and avoid crowds. Violence could erupt quickly and without warning.  See the political section of this advice for more details if you intend travelling to these areas.

We advise against all travel to the Niger Delta States of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers (including Port Harcourt) and advise British nationals in these States to leave.  We also advise against all travel to riverine areas of Akwa Ibom State (i.e. the river and swamp locations on or close to the coast accessible by boat, but not by road).  We advise British nationals in these areas to leave. We also advise against all but essential travel to other areas of Akwa Ibom State.  This is because of the very high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and other armed attacks in these areas.  Since January 2007, we are aware of at least 21 British nationals and more than 200 foreign nationals who have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta area, with one British national being killed.

On 19 July 2009, the Government of Nigeria announced an amnesty for militants in the Niger Delta. On 12 July, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) attacked an oil facility in the Atlas Cove Jetty area of Lagos. The attack was reported in the Nigerian press as having killed up to nine Nigerian nationals. On 15 July MEND announced a 60 day ceasefire in its activities, now extended indefinitely. It is possible that armed groups may still be planning attacks on oil and gas industry targets in the Delta, and on other non-oil and gas industry targets and individuals throughout the country.  

 

The high risk of further kidnappings by armed militants around the oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta also applies to ships and oil rigs at sea off the coast of the Niger Delta.  Since 2007 there has been an increase in attacks offshore.  On 19 June, an oil production platform 120km offshore was attacked, and a US citizen abducted from a nearby support vessel. The recent fighting has further raised tensions and increased the level of risk.

We advise against all travel to the area bordering Cameroon in the region of the Bakassi Peninsula.  Nigeria and Cameroon have reached an agreement on the future of Bakassi, which was handed from Nigeria to Cameroon on 14 August 2008, but the area and local feelings remain sensitive.

If you decide to travel to or remain in these areas it would be reckless to do so unless and until you have taken full, appropriate professional security advice and have acted on it.  You must be vigilant at all times and make sure that your local host and family know your travel plans and timings.  You should register with the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos on arrival (see the General (Registration) section of this advice for more details). Limit your movements to only essential journeys.  Vary your routines.  If travelling by road you should only travel in fully protected transport and aim to complete your journey well before nightfall.  Keep your car doors locked and windows closed and maintain telephone or radio communications to report your movements.  You should consider permanent armed protection, but be aware that even this cannot guarantee your safety. The government has heightened its security presence in Port Harcourt. Many companies have introduced strict restrictions on travel.  If you are a resident British national, you should follow your employer’s local security guidelines.

On 1 January 2008 there were nineteen reported fatalities in Port Harcourt when armed militants attacked two police stations and a hotel.

You should be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers.  The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage-taking.

A curfew (2200-0600) in Okrika Local Government Area remains in place.  A three month dusk-to-dawn curfew was declared on 5 October 2008 in Ebonyi State following clashes over land rights between people from the Ezza and Ezillo communities.

 

You should avoid going to public places in Port Harcourt frequented by expatriates, including bars and restaurants. If you encounter a threatening or intimidating situation do not try to make your way through it, turn around and go home.

We have received reports of an attempt to try to lure an expatriate to a meeting at a remote location near Port Harcourt.   It is believed that this was an attempted kidnap.   When arranging meetings in Nigeria you should ensure that the contact is known to you, and that the meeting is held at a secure location.

Due to the regular increases in the level of violence in Port Harcourt, the High Commission Liaison Office and British Council are subject to closure at short notice.  Closure and reopening of the offices will be reflected in this travel advice.

There is also a risk of politically or financially motivated kidnapping throughout south eastern Nigeria.

 

A British citizen was kidnapped in June 2009 outside Benin City and a Canadian citizen was kidnapped in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, in April 2009 by suspected criminals; both have subsequently been released.

There is a high threat from terrorism in Nigeria.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

You should also be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets.  For more general information see our Terrorism Abroad page.

Crime

Violent street crimes e.g. muggings, kidnappings, car-jackings and especially armed robberies are on the increase in the south of the country.  Hitherto comparatively safe areas of Lagos have seen a rise in these crimes recently.  Most attacks happen after dark from 2200 onwards. You should therefore avoid non-essential road travel in Lagos after 2200. There is little sign of law-enforcement activity to combat this increase.  British Citizens should act upon any security advice given by their employers or, if visiting, their hosts.  Avoid carrying large amounts of cash and wearing valuable watches, jewellery or items of sentimental value.  Remain alert to your surroundings and the actions of local people around you.  If you suspect danger, move away to a safer area. Do not try to resist.

There has recently been an increase in the number of robberies and kidnappings in Abia, Edo and Anambra States, in the latter particularly along the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha expressway. Travellers should exercise caution when driving outside cities, consider travelling in convoy, and avoid making any journeys that would involve travel after dark.

Experience has shown that, should you be unlucky enough to be caught up in an armed robbery, you should immediately comply with the attackers' demands. Those who have suffered injury or worse during such attacks have been perceived as not complying fully or quickly enough.  The vast majority of those who endure such attacks, and follow this advice, do so without lasting physical harm.

For more general information see our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Scams

Foreign visitors and residents can be targeted by scam artists.  The scams come in many forms, and can pose great financial loss to victims.  If you or your relatives or friends are asked to transfer money to Nigeria you should make absolutely sure that it is not part of a scam and that you have properly checked with the person receiving the money that they are requesting it.
 
Scam artists are also targeting individuals in the UK.  There are a myriad of schemes in operation by West African criminal networks designed to facilitate victims parting with money, known as advance fee or 419 fraud.  Nigerian scam artists are also known to be targeting internet dating/personal sites with the intention of soliciting money from victims.  For further information on advance fee fraud please see the West African advance fee Fraud Alert page on the website of the Metropolitan Police.

Foreign visitors and residents are also targeted by scam artists who they have never met in person on internet chat room and on-line dating agencies.  When trust has been established, sometimes over a period of months or years, the victim of the scam is informed that their on-line friend in Nigeria, who they believe is British, is in trouble and in immediate need of funds.  The reasons that the scam artists give for needing cash vary, but include being robbed or mugged, problems with airline tickets, being arrested at an airport for illegal immigration, being held against their will, being involved in a road accident (frequently on the airport road), hospitalisation, illness and advance payment for medical treatment.  Many victims are persuaded to part with large amounts of money before they start to suspect anything.  If you are asked to transfer funds to Nigeria to help with a crisis you should ask the caller whether they have reported the incident (by phone or e-mail) to the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos.  We are also aware of a scam involving a fictitious "Basic Travel Allowance" fee requirement, which has become common.  This is where it is alleged that the person trying to travel needs a certain amount of money before they will be allowed to travel.  People have also received scam e-mails using commercial e-mail accounts (e.g. Yahoo, Hotmail, MSN etc.) allegedly from a British High Commission office in Nigeria requesting personal bank details, or for money to be transferred to High Commission staff.  If you receive a report of a British national in Nigeria in distress or a request from any British High Commission office in Nigeria for bank details or money, you should immediately contact Consular Section, Lagos to investigate.

Political Situation

Nigeria Country Profile

You should take care to avoid large crowds, demonstrations or disturbances, especially if you are driving.

Demonstrations and outbreaks of localised civil unrest and violence can occur with little notice throughout the country.  The security situation may deteriorate rapidly in the vicinity of political gatherings.  If you encounter a threatening or intimidating situation do not try to make your way through it.  Turn round and go home.
 

Before planning any official or recreational travel, particularly by road, you should check whether any political rallies or demonstrations are planned for a particular area, or on your route.  See the Terrorism/Security section of this travel advice for other important security measures.

Local Travel

There is increased tension in parts of northern Nigeria following clashes between militants and security forces in Bauchi State on 26 July 2009 which has extended to parts of Kano, Yobe, Katsina and Borno States on 27 July. A curfew is in force in Maiduguri between 2100 and 0600. If you are travelling in northern Nigeria you should take extra precautions and avoid crowds. Violence could erupt quickly and without warning.  See the political section of this advice for more details if you intend travelling to these areas.

We advise against all travel to the Niger Delta States of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers (including Port Harcourt) and to the riverine areas of Akwa Ibom State (i.e. the river and swamp locations on or close to the coast accessible by boat, but not by road).  We advise British nationals in these areas to leave.  We also advise against all but essential travel to other areas of Akwa Ibom State.  This is because of the very high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and other armed attacks in these areas.  We also advise against all travel to the area bordering Cameroon in the region of the Bakassi Peninsula .  Nigeria and Cameroon have reached an agreement on the future of Bakassi, which was handed from Nigeria to Cameroon on 14 August 2008, but the area and local feelings remain sensitive.

Localised outbreaks of civil unrest can occur at short notice.  Details and advice are circulated via the British High Commission’s Community Liaison Officers’ network.

Road Travel

Traffic in many of Nigeria's major cities can be chaotic and slow moving.  Serious traffic jams in Lagos are not uncommon.  Short journeys that normally take minutes can sometimes take hours.  We advise you to take a mobile telephone with you when travelling by car so that you can stay in touch with family, friends and employers.  We also advise you to have a supply of bottled water in your vehicle at all times.

There are authorised as well as unauthorised vehicle checkpoints throughout Nigeria.  Some are for security checks, others to extort small payments of money.  You should slow down at any type of checkpoint and use common sense at all times.

There are frequent reports of robberies and car-jackings, some involving armed gunmen, on Nigeria's urban and rural road network. If you are involved in a car-jacking, experience has shown that victims who comply immediately and fully with the attackers’ demands are left unharmed.

You should:

 

Road travel in Abuja and Lagos is banned between 07:00 and 10:00 on the last Saturday of every month for municipal road clean up; police vigilantly enforce the ban. 

Air Travel

The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the EU.  You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel - European Commission Transport - Air.

Airlines flying between Nigeria and London can occasionally become severely overbooked.  As a result, airlines advise travellers to reconfirm their return booking at least 48 hours before they are due to depart, and to check in early.

Following a series of crashes, there are also concerns about the safety and reliability of some airline compaies operating domestic flights within Nigeria.

For more general information see the Air Travel page on the Directgov website.
 
Sea Travel

There have been attacks of piracy/armed robbery against ships at anchor in Nigerian waters and at many of the rivers and harbours in the Niger Delta area.  We advise mariners to take appropriate precautions.

For more general information see our River and Sea Safety page.