Travel Warnings & Advice

For the latest travel advice and warnings, contact the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Travel Advice Unit
Consular Directorate
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Old Admiralty Building
London SW1A 2PA

Telephone: 0845 850 2829
Fax: 020 7008 0155

Web: www.fco.gov.uk

Although most trips to Nigeria are trouble-free, this is one destination where government travel warnings to exercise a high degree of caution should not be taken lightly. From religious tensions in the north with the spread of Sharia law to border conflict in the southeast with Cameroon and violent crime throughout the south, travellers need to be aware of what is going on around them at all times.

Lagos and the Niger River delta in the south are particularly unstable, with carjackings, kidnapping, piracy, riots and ethnic clashes prevalent; the northern city of Kano is also dodgy. Travelling from the airport to Lagos can be an unpleasant initiation. Visitors to Lagos should arrange to be met on arrival.

Street crime, robberies and muggings occur throughout the country, often in broad daylight. There have also been territorial disputes in the oil-rich region of Bakassi, adjoining neighbouring Cameroon in the southeast. The dispute is being resolved diplomatically for the time being but warrants checking if you're considering travelling through the area.