ABUJA, Nigeria — The United States Embassy in Nigeria has issued a stern travel advisory identifying 23 states across the country as high-risk zones. Citing a significant decline in security, the diplomatic mission has authorized the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their family members from the embassy located in the capital city of Abuja.
The updated advisory, released on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, maintains Nigeria’s overall status at Level 3: Reconsider Travel. However, specific regions have been escalated to Level 4: Do Not Travel, the highest danger category. The United States Department of State, which manages foreign affairs and international relations for the American government, noted that the security situation in these areas is increasingly unstable.
Among the states designated with the most severe warning are Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe, as well as the northern region of Adamawa. Okay News reports that the embassy explicitly warned of widespread communal violence, terrorism, and roadside banditry in these locations. The advisory noted, “On April 8, 2026, the Department of State authorised non-emergency US government employees and UA government employee family members to leave US embassy in Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation.”
In the northern belt, additional states including Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara were flagged due to the prevalence of unrest and kidnapping. The southern region was not exempt, with Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers—excluding the city of Port Harcourt—identified as high-risk areas for violent crime. The Department of State cautioned that American citizens are frequently targeted by armed gangs because they are perceived to possess significant wealth.
Beyond physical security threats, the embassy raised concerns regarding the healthcare system within the federal government of Nigeria. It stated that medical services are inconsistent and generally fall below the standards expected in the United States or Europe. For those who must travel, the embassy recommended enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and establishing personal “proof of life” protocols in case of abduction. The mission emphasized that terrorist threats remain high in public places such as shopping centers, hotels, and places of worship.
