Nigeria Travel Warning
In the state of Cross Rivers, near the capital Calabar, foreigners were also affected by kidnapping cases. There is an increase in crime in Abuja due to the tense economic situation. Travelers are advised to exercise caution.
According to the Nigerian authorities, Abuja Airport will be closed from March 8, 2017 to April 19, 2017 to repair the runway. During this time it is not possible to fly to Abuja Airport. During the closure, Abuja can only be reached with additional domestic flights and long car journeys, e.g. via Lagos (from there with national airlines to Jos or Kaduna plus approx. 3 hours by car, alternatively 10-12 hours by car from Lagos), or via Kano (from there to Abuja about 6 hours drive).
For all car journeys, only day trips in armored or well-secured vehicles are recommended, see also the general travel information.
Country-specific safety instructions
The Federal Foreign Office warns against traveling to the northern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe.
In addition, unnecessary trips to the rest of northern Nigeria are not recommended.
Because of the particularly high risk of kidnapping, trips to the states of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo (especially the capital Owerri), Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Delta, Kogi, the southern part of Cross Rivers, Ogun and Akwa are also avoided Ibom not advised. A stay in these regions should only be considered if comprehensive and professional security facilities can be used (secure transport, secure accommodation).
There is a risk of kidnapping across Nigeria. Due to the tense economic situation, purely criminal kidnappings with the aim of extorting ransom have recently increased.
We also advise against traveling to the offshore coastal waters. There is an increased risk from pirates in the Gulf of Guinea.
In addition, acts of terrorist violence continue to occur in the northern parts of the country, such as attacks and explosive attacks by militant groups on security forces, markets, schools, churches and mosques.
Bomb attacks last occurred in 2015 in the capital Abuja and its suburbs. The danger of further attacks, also in other metropolises in Nigeria, persists. Travelers are advised to exercise particular caution and restraint when visiting public or publicly accessible facilities and places such as markets, mosques, churches and hotels that do not have reliable safety precautions.
In addition, controls and restrictive measures by the security forces take place all over the country.
In Nigeria, local conflicts can break out in all regions, usually hardly predictable. The causes and causes of the conflicts are mostly of a political, economic, religious or ethnic nature. Most of the time, these disputes are of short duration (a few days) and localized (mostly only individual locations, in larger cities only individual districts).
There were repeated attacks on travelers, especially on the long connecting roads between the international airports and the inner cities of Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt. It is advisable to use a well-secured or armored vehicle for this overland trip, especially at night. There are also frequent armed attacks on the road connecting Abuja and Jos (Plateau State). Here, too, a well-secured or armored vehicle should be used and night drives should be avoided entirely.
Travel within Nigeria
Bus travel in the country is not recommended.
Car journeys, especially overland, should only be carried out with local and reliable people who are personally known and local, preferably in a convoy. Driving in the dark should be avoided in any case because of the increased risk of assault and the sometimes catastrophic road conditions. In large regions, raids must be expected even during the day. There are repeated bottlenecks in the supply of petrol and diesel throughout the country.
The border crossings to the neighboring states of Cameroon, Chad and Niger by the security forces must be expected to be temporarily closed. These can sometimes last longer. Local curfews are also possible at short notice.
Communication with cell phones can be restricted as a result of attacks that often also affect cell phone systems.
Before traveling to Nigeria, travelers should always find out about the current security situation in the Nigerian and international media.
Crime
The Federal Foreign Office strongly advises against traveling to Nigeria because of fraudulent business and other contacts, especially Internet acquaintances. Please note the information from the Embassy Abuja and the Consulate General Lagos on so-called prepayment fraud on the joint website of the Embassy and Consulate General in the Information section of the Legal and Consular Department under external link, opens in new window www.nigeria.diplo.de/.
According to youremailverifier, the crime rate in Nigeria is high. In the economic metropolis of Lagos in particular, there are repeated series of armed attacks, including in the urban areas preferred by foreigners, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki and Ikeja. Criminal incidents have also increased in Abuja since early 2016. To protect against theft and robbery, it is recommended to protect cash, photo equipment and other valuables from the eyes of third parties, to refrain from wearing jewelry, especially in public places / markets, and not to use credit cards. In the event of an armed robbery, it is strongly advised not to resist and to hand over valuables.
