Reconsider Travel
“There was no change to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated.”
Updated Fri, 12 Jun 2026
Full advisory →Is Nigeria safe? 🇳🇬
Africa · Updated
As of September 2026, Nigeria scores 30/100 on the IsMyTripSafe safety index — verdict: caution advised. The U.S. State Department rates Nigeria Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Of the 8 Nigeria destinations assessed, Calabar scores highest (44/100), while Port Harcourt scores lowest (34/100).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Nigeria 🇳🇬
Nigeria · Assessed 28 September 2026
30
/ 100
Caution advised
Safer than ~15% of countries
Score capped at 44 — Level 3 advisory — reconsider travel. No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
Crime37/100ElevatedCrime index 66.6 / 100
Sentiment29/100ElevatedMostly negative
Advisories30Elevated
Stability40Caution
Health66Fair
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Elevated
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against travel North East Nigeria FCDO advises against all travel to: Borno State Yobe State Adamawa State Gombe State FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: Bauchi State North West Nigeria FCDO advises against all travel to: Katsina State Zamfara State FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: Kaduna State Kano State Kebbi State Jigawa State Sokoto State North Central Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, including Abuja FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: Niger State Kogi State Plateau State Taraba State Kwara State Benue State South East and South South Nigeria FCDO advises against all travel to the riverine areas (the river and swamp locations accessible by boat, but not by road) of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.”
Updated 2026-08-20T14:18:43Z
Full advisory →Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Nigeria: avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-09-24T08:53:34.9449177-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Elevated
Mugging & robbery risk
Severe risk
12
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
High risk
58
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
35 / 100 (Mostly negative)
35
City SignalCity Web Research
Homicide rate
15.7 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Nigeria15.7Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
33
Robbery / mugging
SevereArmed robbery is common, particularly at night and in isolated areas; higher risk in Lagos, Abuja, and along major highways
Pickpocketing
HighPickpocketing and bag snatching are widespread in markets, bus stations, and crowded urban areas like Lagos Island and Abuja's central districts
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Fair
04 · Institutions
Stability
Caution
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Elevated
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly negative
29/100
Reported feel35Mostly negative
Robbery risk12Severe risk
Pickpocket risk58High risk
Visitor reports indicate widespread insecurity, with many citing fear of crime, kidnapping, and scams; only those with local contacts or strict security feel relatively safe in business hubs.
No — Nigeria is not safe for general tourism due to widespread violent crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and civil unrest, though limited travel to major cities like Lagos and Abuja is possible with extreme caution.
Nigeria faces severe security challenges including high-level risks from terrorism (especially Boko Haram/ISWAP in the northeast), banditry and kidnapping in the northwest and north-central zones, and pervasive violent crime in urban centers. While Lagos and Abuja have relatively better security in commercial districts, risks remain elevated due to armed robbery, pickpocketing, scams, and periodic civil unrest. Travelers should avoid all non-essential travel per multiple government advisories.
Recent developments
- Sep 2026Hundreds remain captive a month after mass kidnapping in northern Nigeria— Reuters
- Sep 2026Nigerian police used tear gas during protests over deaths in custody of 37 miners— AP News
- Sep 2026Nigerian residents protested as hundreds remain captive after mass kidnapping— Global Voices
- Aug 2026UK warned citizens against travel to 11 Nigerian states due to terrorism and kidnapping risks— Punch Newspapers
Common scams
- Fake police checkpoints demanding bribes
- Airport taxi overcharging and robbery
- Advance-fee and romance scams targeting foreigners
- ATM skimming and card trapping
- Fake travel agents and visa fixers
Full briefing
Nigeria remains a high-risk destination for travelers, with multiple government advisories urging reconsideration or avoidance of non-essential travel due to pervasive threats from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and violent crime. The U.S. State Department maintains a Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) advisory, while the UK FCDO advises against all travel to 11 states in the north and northeast and against all but essential travel to many others, including Abuja and parts of the north-central zone. Canada similarly advises avoiding non-essential travel with regional restrictions. These advisories reflect real and ongoing dangers: Boko Haram and ISWAP remain active in the northeast, bandit networks operate freely in the northwest and north-central states, and kidnapping for ransom is a nationwide criminal enterprise affecting both locals and foreigners.
In urban centers like Lagos and Abuja, the situation is somewhat more manageable for business travelers who observe strict precautions, but risks remain severe. Armed robbery is common, especially after dark and in isolated areas, while pickpocketing and bag snatching are rampant in markets, bus stations, and crowded commercial zones such as Lagos Island, Balogun Market, and Abuja’s central districts. Recent incidents underscore the volatility: in September 2026, mass kidnappings left hundreds captive in the north, prompting protests; police used tear gas during demonstrations over miner deaths in custody; and the UK reiterated warnings against travel to 11 states due to terrorism and kidnapping. Scams targeting visitors are sophisticated and widespread, including fake police checkpoints, airport taxi fraud, ATM skimming, and advance-fee schemes.
For those who must travel, safety hinges on extreme vigilance: avoid all nighttime movement, use only pre-arranged and tracked transportation, stay in well-secured hotels in known safe zones (e.g., Victoria Island and Ikoyi in Lagos, Maitama and Asokoro in Abuja), keep valuables concealed and minimal, and remain alert in crowds. Monitor local news closely and avoid any protests, rallies, or areas of civil unrest. Given the extreme risk environment, tourism is not advisable; only essential travel with robust security measures should be considered.
06 · Destinations
Nigeria destinations by safety score
#1🇳🇬CalabarUse Caution · updated 29 July 202644#2🇳🇬IbadanUse Caution · updated 28 September 202641#3🇳🇬KanoUse Caution · updated 29 July 202641#4🇳🇬EnuguUse Caution · updated 29 July 202638#5🇳🇬AbujaUse Caution · updated 23 September 202637#6🇳🇬LagosUse Caution · updated 26 August 202636#7🇳🇬Benin CityUse Caution · updated 29 July 202635#8🇳🇬Port HarcourtUse Caution · updated 29 July 202634
Missing a place? Generate its report in about a minute.
07 · Questions
Nigeria safety FAQ
Is Nigeria safe to visit right now?
The U.S. State Department currently rates Nigeria Level 3 of 4 — Reconsider Travel. On our composite index Nigeria scores 30/100. See the destination reports above for city-level detail. (Updated 28 September 2026.)
What is the safest place to visit in Nigeria?
Of the destinations we've assessed, Calabar currently scores highest at 44/100 (Use Caution). Port Harcourt scores lowest at 34/100.
Where does this Nigeria safety data come from?
Directly from public sources: US, UK and Canadian government advisories, World Bank and UNODC crime statistics, WHO health data, live air-quality, disaster and earthquake feeds — plus AI field research over current local reporting. Read the full methodology.