The Canadian government has issued a new travel advisory placing Nigeria and 16 other African countries on its high risk travel list, citing worsening security concerns across several parts of the continent.
In the advisory released by Global Affairs Canada, Nigerian travellers were advised to avoid non essential travel to the country due to the heightened risks of terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry and violent crime. The warning applies to all parts of Nigeria, including major urban centres.
Other African nations placed under the same category of “avoid non essential travel” include Ethiopia, Madagascar, Burundi, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Mauritania and Tanzania.
Canada also listed eight countries under the more severe category of “avoid all travel”. These include South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, Niger, Somalia and Sudan, where security conditions were described as extremely volatile with limited government control in many areas.
According to the Canadian authorities, the decision was based on continued militant activities, communal violence, kidnappings for ransom, and the general unpredictability of security situations across the affected countries. The advisory also warned that law enforcement response in many high risk regions may be limited or delayed.
For Nigeria, the Canadian government highlighted ongoing insurgency in the North East, widespread banditry in the North West and Central regions, as well as criminal activities in parts of the South, including oil producing areas.
The advisory urges Canadian citizens currently in Nigeria and other affected countries to exercise a high level of caution, avoid crowded places, monitor local media, and comply strictly with safety guidelines issued by local authorities.
While travel advisories do not constitute a travel ban, analysts note that such classifications could affect tourism, international business travel and foreign perception of security in the listed countries.
Nigerian authorities have yet to officially respond to the latest advisory at the time of filing this report.
