The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom changed the status of Abuja from “Amber” to “Green” on Monday and cautioned against all but absolutely necessary travel to Nigeria’s political capital.
The FCDO also issued a warning to British nationals to stay away from 22 states in Nigeria in a statement on Monday.
The statement said, “There continue to be a number of states in Nigeria where we advise British Nationals against all but essential travel.
“These include: Bauchi, Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto, Kogi, Abia, Plateau, Taraba, within 20km of the border with Niger in Kebbi State and non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States. We also advise against all travel to: Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State, Kaduna State, Katsina State, Zamfara state, and the riverine areas of Delta State, Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State.”
According to the FCDO, its travel advice is regularly updated to reflect the most recent developments in Abuja and Nigeria.
The release further mentioned that the British High Commission in Abuja will begin offering regular services on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
In October, the United States and the United Kingdom issued alerts about potential terror strikes in Abuja, particularly at government buildings, houses of worship, educational institutions, and other sites where big people congregate. Additionally, both nations started evacuating their citizens from Nigeria’s political center.
The Federal Government, however, dismissed the terror alerts, claiming that Nigeria is safer now than it was in May 2015, when President Muhammadu Buhari took office, and that the government wouldn’t be overrun.