Nigeria Slams U.S. Travel Advisory as Unjustified, Urges Control of National Narrative

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, faulted the recent travel advisory issued by the United States, warning its citizens against travelling to Nigeria over rising insecurity, describing the move as unjustified and a wrongful portrayal of Nigeria. The government also cited similar advisories released by Australia and the United Kingdom, highlighting that the Nigerian government does not shy away from releasing retaliatory statements. 

The US had cautioned its citizens against visiting Nigeria, citing the prevalence of crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and inadequate healthcare services.

The warning, published on the website of the US Mission in Nigeria, stated, “Overall, all locations carry significant security risks … Do Not Travel to: Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and northern Adamawa states due to terrorism and kidnapping. Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states due to kidnapping. Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states (with the exception of Port Harcourt) due to crime, kidnapping, and armed gangs.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, raised the concern at the annual retreat of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG) organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Abuja, describing the advisory as unfortunate. 

Represented by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication Strategy, Alkazeem Abdulkadir, the minister said no nation, including the United States, can boast of absolute security.

“In 2024, about 47,000 people died from gun violence in America. Again, it is projected that in 2025, 45,000 people will die from gun violence in the same America. But because we have not articulated or replied to their travel advisory, we have empowered them to continue writing these things against us.”

“A year ago, we wrote a travel advisory against Australia because they published one against us. We also wrote a travel advisory against the UK because they published one against us. In the ministry, we call this self-flagellation, where we, as Nigerians, are very prone to laugh at ourselves.”

Addressing the public relations practitioners at the retreat, he stressed that Nigeria must be more proactive in controlling its narrative in a global information space that is increasingly manipulated.

“As Nigeria repositions itself on the global stage under the visionary leadership of President Bola Tinubu, your work becomes even more strategic. This is a time for media diplomacy to foster national unity, attract investment, strengthen bilateral relationships, and promote Nigeria as a capable voice in the global conversation.”

In his keynote presentation, Public Relations expert, Modupe Adetokunbo, echoed this sentiment, lamenting the growing negative perception of Nigeria, linking it to social and economic challenges. The President and Chairman of Council, NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, also underscored the need for Nigeria to own and amplify its success stories instead of leaving the international community to shape its image.

“Unknown to us, this whole thing is about programming. People can programme us to continue to look down on ourselves, and, unwittingly, we have accepted that scenario. I always insist that Nigeria remains one of the greatest nations on earth, no matter the parameters deployed to check.”