Foreign Office Urges Daylight-Only Travel for Nigeria Visitors
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a critical travel warning for British tourists planning visits to Nigeria, explicitly advising holidaymakers to restrict all movement to daylight hours only. This updated guidance was published on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, as part of a significant amendment to the official Nigeria travel advice.
Heightened Kidnapping Threats Across Multiple States
The FCDO has shared updated information regarding substantial risks from kidnapping for ransom and terrorist abduction via its dedicated 'Safety and Security' page. The advisory states that terrorist groups remain highly likely to execute kidnappings throughout Nigeria, with incidents occurring anywhere across the country.
Foreign nationals, including humanitarian workers, have been targeted in northern states such as Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi. The FCDO specifically highlighted an increased risk of terrorist kidnap, particularly for non-governmental organization (NGO) workers operating in Borno State.
British Nationals Considered Legitimate Targets
The warning makes clear that British nationals are viewed as legitimate targets by kidnappers, encompassing tourists, humanitarian aid workers, journalists, and business travellers. The FCDO emphasized that if kidnapped, the reason for a person's presence in Nigeria is unlikely to protect them or facilitate their safe release.
The long-standing policy of the British government remains firm against making substantive concessions to hostage takers. Officials maintain that paying ransoms or releasing prisoners ultimately builds terrorist group capabilities and finances their operations, which can subsequently increase the risk of further hostage-taking incidents. Notably, the Terrorism Act (2000) renders payments to terrorists illegal under UK law.
Critical Safety Recommendations for Travelers
The FCDO provided specific safety measures for those who must travel to Nigeria:
- Arrange meetings only in secure, known locations
- Avoid establishing regular patterns of travel that could be monitored
- Aim to travel exclusively during daylight hours
- Exercise extreme caution on major highways where criminal groups often intercept vehicles
Widespread Criminal Kidnapping Across Regions
Kidnapping remains widespread across Nigeria, with criminal abductions possible anywhere. The situation is particularly severe in northwestern states including Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Borno, and Sokoto. However, high risks persist in many central and southern states such as Niger, Kogi, Kwara, and the Abuja Federal Capital Territory.
Criminal groups frequently kidnap victims by stopping cars on major highways, with specific concerns raised about the Abuja-Kaduna highway and the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha expressway in Anambra. Additionally, the FCDO warned of a high threat of kidnapping and armed attacks at oil and gas facilities throughout the Niger Delta region, including offshore installations.
Potential Targets Include Various Visitor Categories
The advisory identifies several groups as potential kidnapping targets:
- British tourists visiting Nigeria for leisure purposes
- British nationals of Nigerian origin visiting friends and relatives
- British nationals employed by international corporations with Nigerian operations
- Humanitarian aid workers and journalists operating in high-risk areas
The FCDO continues to monitor the security situation closely and urges all British nationals to review the complete travel advice before considering any travel to Nigeria, while exercising maximum caution for those already in the country.
