The United Kingdom has updated its travel advisory for Nigeria, warning British travellers against visiting several parts of the country because of security concerns.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its Nigeria travel advice on August 20, 2026. The guidance, still current as of August 21, warns that travel insurance could be invalidated if travellers visit locations covered by the FCDO’s travel warnings. (GOV.UK)
The advisory divides affected locations into areas where the UK advises against all travel and those where it recommends all but essential travel.
States under an all-travel ban
In the North-East, the FCDO advises against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states.
In the North-West, the warning covers Katsina and Zamfara states.
The UK also advises against all travel to riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. The restriction specifically concerns river and swamp locations accessible by boat rather than by road.
States under an essential-travel-only warning
The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Bauchi State in the North-East.
The same warning applies in the North-West to Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa and Sokoto states.
In North-Central Nigeria, the affected states are Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Kwara and Benue.
The UK advice also covers specific areas within the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding regions.
In the South-East and South-South, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Abia and Anambra states, as well as Imo State. The warning also applies to the non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states, while their riverine areas remain under the stricter all-travel warning.
The FCDO’s latest official travel map reflects these classifications and distinguishes between areas where it advises against all travel and those where only essential travel is recommended. (GOV.UK)
The UK government stressed that its travel advice is intended to help travellers assess risks before visiting Nigeria. It also urged anyone travelling despite the warnings to research their destination and obtain insurance that covers their itinerary, planned activities and emergency expenses. (GOV.UK)
The advisory does not amount to a blanket warning against travel to Nigeria. Rather, the FCDO’s guidance applies different levels of caution to specific states and locations, while travellers to other parts of the country are advised to consult the full travel guidance before departure.
The latest update comes as the UK continues to maintain detailed security assessments for Nigeria, with the FCDO advising travellers to monitor its guidance for changes before and during their trips. (GOV.UK)
