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Nigeria Travel
Warning This Travel Warning was issued on October 30, 2007 to warn U.S. citizens of the possible dangers of travel to Nigeria, and to note the continued unstable security situation in the Niger Delta region. American citizens should defer all but essential travel to Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states because of the very high risk of kidnapping, robbery, and other armed attacks in these areas. American citizens who are resident in the Delta are strongly advised to review their personal security in light of the information contained in this Travel Warning when deciding whether to remain. The ability of the U.S. Government to provide consular services to Americans in these areas may be limited. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Nigeria issued January 19, 2007. The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of the possible dangers of travel to Nigeria. Periodically, travel by U.S. mission personnel is restricted based on changing security conditions, often due to crime, general strikes, or student/political demonstrations or disturbances. The lack of law and order in Nigeria poses considerable risks to travelers. Violent crime committed by ordinary criminals, as well as by persons in police and military uniforms, can occur throughout the country and tends to peak between November and January, during the holiday period.
After several weeks of armed clashes between heavily-armed rival militias, the security situation in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has stabilized slightly, due to the presence of a large military Joint Task Force (JTF). Despite the JTF presence, however, one expatriate was killed during a kidnapping attempt and at least one other was taken hostage. The restoration of order remains fragile and the potential for violent outbreaks still exists. In 2007, over 150 foreigners in the Niger Delta region have been kidnapped from off-shore and land-based oil facilities, residential compounds, and public roadways mainly in Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states. While most hostages have been released unharmed, two expatriates have died since November 2006 while in captivity and many were held for weeks in hostile conditions. In response to the high number of kidnappings and two car bombs at oil company compounds in Port Harcourt, most oil industry personnel in the Niger Delta removed their dependents from the area and implemented “essential travel only” policies. U.S. citizens and other foreigners have been threatened during labor disputes. Criminal groups have kidnapped and held for ransom expatriate workers, including American citizens, and family members.
Crime in Lagos and Abuja is an ongoing problem. Some expatriates have been robbed in the outlying Lagos suburb of Lekki, and in Abuja, the Maitama area has seen a series of home invasions. In a working class section of mainland Lagos, an October 2005 clash between police and residents left several dead. Even Victoria and Ikoyi Islands, which are generally safer than other parts of Lagos, have experienced attempted bank robberies, and have seen an increase in smash-and-grab car robberies, including some involving expatriates. Federal and State elections are scheduled for April 2007. Previous elections in Nigeria have sometimes resulted in civil disturbances and unrest leading up to and during the election. U.S. citizens in Nigeria should exercise particular caution during this period. Large public gatherings, political rallies, and demonstrations should be avoided. The U.S. government's ability to assist American citizens caught up in instances of civil disturbance or unrest may be limited.
Religious tension between some Muslim and Christian communities results in
occasional acts of isolated communal violence that could erupt quickly and
without warning. The states of Kano and Kaduna are particularly volatile.
Rival ethnic groups have clashed violently in the Niger Delta region around
Warri city and in Southeast Plateau State. Senior al-Qaida leadership has
expressed interest publicly in overthrowing the government of Nigeria. Links
also were uncovered connecting Nigerians to al-Qaida in 2004.
Enforcement of aviation safety
standards in Nigeria is uneven; civil aviation in Nigeria continues to
experience air incidents and accidents, including four crashes with
fatalities between October 22, 2005, and October 30, 2006. Incidents
included fires on planes, collapsed landing gear, and planes veering off the
runway. After each such occurence, aviation authorities may temporarily shut
down the domestic airline involved, ground a number of planes, and close the
affected airport. Flights in Nigeria, including international routes, are
often delayed or cancelled. Travelers should be prepared for disruptions to
air travel to, from, and within Nigeria.
Some Nigeria-based criminals
conduct advance fee fraud and other scams that target foreigners worldwide.
These fraudulent activities pose great risk of financial loss. Recipients
traveling to Nigeria to pursue such fraudulent offers have been subject to
physical harm, and local police authorities are often unwilling to help in
such cases. No one should provide personal financial or account information
to unknown parties. Under no circumstances should U.S. citizens travel to
Nigeria without a valid visa -- an invitation to enter Nigeria without a
visa is normally indicative of illegal activity. Furthermore, the ability of
U.S. Embassy officers to extricate U.S. citizens from unlawful business
deals and their consequences is limited. Persons contemplating business
deals in Nigeria are strongly urged to check with the U.S. Department of
Commerce or the U.S. Department of State before providing any information or
making any financial commitments. See the Department of State's publications
Tips For Business Travelers To Nigeria at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_2113.html,
and Nigerian Advanced Fee Fraud at
http://www.state.gov/www/regions/africa/naffpub.pdf.
Periodically, travel by U.S. mission personnel is restricted based on changing security conditions, often due to crime, general strikes, or student/political demonstrations or disturbances. U.S. citizens should contact the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos for up-to-date information on any restrictions. The U.S. Embassy in Abuja can be contacted by phone at [234](9) 461-4000. American citizens may contact the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos at 011 [234](1) 261-1215 during business hours. For after-hours emergencies call [234] (1) 261-1414, 261-0195, 261-0078, 261-0139, or 261-6477. You may also visit the U.S. Embassy' website at http://nigeria.usembassy.gov.
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