The Nigerian government has been dealing with a deteriorating security situation across the country. In a travel advisory issued on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, the US Department of State advised Americans to reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest. The advisory classified the overall travel advisory for Nigeria as Level 3: Reconsider Travel, while some states are at Level 4: Do Not Travel.
The list of Do Not Travel areas has increased to 23 states, with Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, and Taraba states being the latest additions. Non-emergency US government employees and their family members have been allowed to leave the US Embassy in Abuja due to the security concerns. In addition, the advisory warned of inconsistent availability of health care services in some areas, making travel even more challenging.
In the North, states such as Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, and northern Adamawa have been classified as Level 4 due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. Meanwhile, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states have been listed due to unrest, crime, and kidnapping. As a result, security operations may occur without warning, posing a risk to US citizens.
The security situation in Southern and Southeastern Nigeria is also unstable, with crime, kidnapping, and unrest being major concerns. States such as Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers (excluding Port Harcourt) are advised to be avoided. The US Department of State has urged citizens to exercise caution when traveling to these areas due to the high risk of kidnap and crime.
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