- Travel Advice
DFAT advice for Nigeria
When travelling to Nigeria, you should always get travel insurance in case the worst happens. To help you ensure you travel safely, we have included the travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Nigeria.
| Nigeria overall | This Advice is current for Monday, 08 September 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Riverine area of Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers (and Bonny Island), Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Anambra States in the south-east | ||||
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Bakassi Peninsula | ||||
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and Security: Civil Unrest/Political Tension (militant group MEND ends ceasefire, kidnap incidents), Local Laws (smoking ban) and Where to Get Help (High Commission website). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
[top]Summary
- We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Nigeria at this time due to the high threat of terrorist attack and risk of kidnapping, the unpredictable security situation and the heightened risk of violent civil unrest. The security situation could deteriorate without warning.
- If you do decide to travel to Nigeria, you should exercise extreme caution.
- Large, violent demonstrations resulting in deaths have occurred in Nigeria. You should avoid all protests, rallies and demonstrations as they may turn violent.
- We strongly advise you not to travel to the riverine area in Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers (including Port Harcourt and Bonny Island), Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Anambra States in south-eastern Nigeria because of the high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and other armed attacks against foreign oil companies in the area and localised violent civil unrest.
- Credible reports indicate that militant groups intend to conduct attacks against oil pipelines and facilities in the Niger Delta region. The exact timing of the attacks is not known, however they are believed to be imminent.
- In recent years there have been a number of attacks and kidnappings carried out by militants in the region. Over 150 foreign workers have been kidnapped, killed or injured since the beginning of 2007. Militants have warned of further kidnappings and attacks.
- The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) announced the end of a ceasefire on 12 July and threatened to attack British interests in Nigeria.
- Conflict between the Nigerian military and militants is continuing in the Warri area of Delta state.
- We also advise you not to travel to the Bakassi Peninsula because of possible violence following Nigeria's hand-over in August 2006 of the northern part of the peninsula to Cameroon.
- If in spite of our advice not to travel to these areas, you decide to go to or stay in these regions, you should ensure you have adequate and continuous close personal protection from a professional security service.
- The ability of the Australian Government to provide consular services to Australians in these areas may be severely limited.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a human death from avian influenza in Nigeria. See the Health Issues section below for advice to Australians travelling to or resident in Nigeria.
- Given the unpredictable security situation in Nigeria, we strongly recommend that you register your travel and contact details with us, so we can contact you in an emergency.
- Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
- subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
