The Government of Canada has issued a sweeping new travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Nigeria—including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja—citing a rapidly deteriorating security climate marked by terrorism, banditry, armed attacks, and widespread kidnappings.
The advisory, released on Monday by Global Affairs Canada, significantly escalates previous warnings and places Nigeria among the highest-risk destinations for Canadian travellers worldwide. According to the government, the security situation across much of the country has become “highly unpredictable,” with frequent attacks by extremist groups, criminal gangs, and armed militias.
Vast Regions Declared Too Dangerous for Travel
In the updated notice, Canada designates large swaths of northern, central, and southeastern Nigeria as “no-go zones,” urging citizens to avoid travel entirely due to the elevated risk of violence.
The advisory lists the following high-risk states where Canadians are instructed to avoid all travel:
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Northwest: Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara
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North-Central: Plateau, Niger, Kogi
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Northeast: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Taraba, Yobe
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South-East and South-South (Niger Delta region): Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Rivers
While Port Harcourt is not under a complete travel ban, Canadian authorities strongly advise citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the city due to heightened instability and the potential for violent crime.
The statement also warns travellers to steer clear of areas within 10 kilometres of Nigeria’s borders with Cameroon, Niger, and northern Benin, citing persistent cross-border incursions by armed groups and smugglers.
Exceptions: Lagos and Calabar
Notably, Canada lists only two cities—Lagos and Calabar—as areas where travel is not outright discouraged. However, even in these cities, visitors are urged to exercise a “high degree of caution” due to the ongoing threat of crime, abductions, and sudden outbreaks of violence.
Canadian officials note that while Lagos and Calabar remain comparatively safer than other parts of the country, they are not immune to insecurity, and travellers should remain extremely alert.
Terrorism and Kidnappings at the Core of Advisory
The Canadian government’s updated assessment attributes the heightened travel risk to several intersecting security crises:
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Terrorist attacks by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other extremist factions
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Bandit raids and mass kidnappings in northwestern and north-central states
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Ethno-religious violence across the Middle Belt
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Militant activity and criminality in the Niger Delta
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Rampant kidnapping-for-ransom, which the advisory notes affects both locals and foreign nationals
According to the alert, terrorist attacks in Nigeria “can occur with little or no warning,” targeting marketplaces, places of worship, transport hubs, government institutions, and areas frequented by expatriates.
Kidnappings remain one of the gravest concerns. Canada emphasises that abductions for ransom occur “across all regions of the country,” with foreign nationals deliberately targeted by criminal groups seeking high pay-outs.
Increasingly Volatile Border Regions
The advisory singles out Nigeria’s border zones for special caution, noting that the porous boundaries with Cameroon, Niger, and Benin have become corridors for militant infiltration, weapon trafficking, and the movement of criminal syndicates.
Travellers are urged to avoid these border areas entirely due to the risk of ambushes, terrorism, and cross-border attacks.
Threat Level Among Highest Globally
With this update, Nigeria is now placed in one of the highest danger categories for Canadian travellers, comparable to nations undergoing conflict or severe political instability.
Global Affairs Canada urges all Canadians currently inside the country to:
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Maintain extreme personal vigilance
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Avoid unnecessary movement
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Follow instructions from local authorities
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Monitor local media and security alerts regularly
The advisory also encourages Canadians to register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) service to receive real-time updates and assistance in case of emergencies.
Wider International Implications
The Canadian warning adds to a growing list of Western countries that have issued stern travel advisories regarding Nigeria in recent months. The United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and several European nations have all flagged Nigeria as a high-risk destination due to escalating terrorist activity and pervasive insecurity.
The latest upsurge in mass abductions—particularly the recent kidnappings of students in Niger and Kebbi States—has intensified international concern over the government’s capacity to safeguard citizens and critical institutions.
Canada’s new advisory underscores the gravity of Nigeria’s security challenges and reflects the mounting anxiety among global partners over the country’s worsening instability. The sweeping restrictions on travel—spanning nearly every region outside Lagos and Calabar—paint a troubling portrait of a nation grappling with multiple layers of violence and weakening state control.
As the security situation continues to evolve, analysts warn that such advisories could affect diplomatic relations, foreign investment, and international perceptions of Nigeria’s stability, placing additional pressure on the federal government to respond decisively to the country’s growing insecurity crisis.
