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Nigeria’s Ministry of Information and National Orientation has countered the recent travel advisory issued by the United States for its citizens and government staff in the country.
The US Government advised its staff to leave Abuja on Wednesday and cancelled visa appointments, citing insecurity. It also urged its citizens not to travel to 23 Nigerian states across the country’s southern and northern regions.
It listed the states with higher risk as Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Kogi, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina. Others, it said, are Sokoto, Zamfara, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers.
Rabiu Ibrahim, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the travel advisory does not reflect Nigeria’s gains in security operations across multiple regions, which he said reduce threats in affected areas while sustaining stability in the majority of the country.
“The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the U.S. decision as a routine precaution guided by internal protocols, noting that it does not reflect the overall security situation across Nigeria,” the statement read in part.
“While we acknowledge isolated security challenges in some areas, there is no general breakdown of law and order, and the vast majority of the country remains stable,” Ibrahim quoted the minister as saying
Ibrahim added that the minister said that Nigeria remains open for business, travel, and investment. According to the minister, international partners and investors continue to engage actively with Nigeria, reflecting confidence in the country’s stability and long-term prospects.
The Nigerian Government also urged balanced and up-to-date reporting that reflects the progress being made in its fight against insecurity.
“We encourage our international partners to continuously engage with Nigerian authorities to obtain a more comprehensive and current understanding of the situation on the ground,” he added.
