Nigeria Travel Advisory 2026: Security Situation and Implications for Visa Applicants

As of September 29, 2026, the Travel and Safety Advisory for Nigeria has been updated once again. The changes primarily concern the assessment of the security situation, the domestic political situation, and information regarding crime in the country. For travelers planning a trip to Nigeria, these updates serve as an important reminder to thoroughly research the situation in their specific destination regions before departure, as assessments vary significantly from state to state.

Travel to a number of northern and central states is expressly discouraged. These include, among others, Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara, as well as the border area with Cameroon. Travel to Nigeria’s coastal waters, including the Gulf of Guinea and the Niger Delta, as well as to other states such as Abia, Benue, Kogi, and Taraba, is strongly discouraged. A restricted recommendation applies to numerous other states: Travel to these areas should be avoided—with the exception of the respective state capital and when arriving by air. Only Abuja, Lagos, and the greater Ibadan area are not subject to a general travel warning, although special caution is advised even there.

This differentiated classification is based on ongoing terrorist activities in the north of the country, including bombings and attacks on civilians, security forces, and public institutions. In December 2025 and March 2026, several serious attacks occurred in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. In the northern and northwestern states, particularly in the border region with Niger, the number of kidnappings by bandits and terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and JNIM has also risen. According to the advisories, there is also a general risk of attacks and criminal assaults in major cities such as Abuja.

For travel planning, this means above all: Anyone traveling to Nigeria should avoid overland travel whenever possible, should never travel after dark, and should exercise increased caution when visiting crowded places such as markets, bus stations, or shopping centers. If overland travel is unavoidable, it is recommended to carefully check the security situation along the route in advance and, if possible, arrange for an armed escort. These assessments should be incorporated into your planning during the travel preparation phase—that is, well before the actual start of the trip.

For visa applicants, the updated security advisories do not formally change the entry requirements themselves; however, it is worth taking a close look at your own itinerary within Nigeria to realistically plan your itinerary and, if necessary, adjust your travel health insurance and emergency preparedness accordingly. Anyone deciding to travel to Nigeria will generally still need a valid visa—this includes, in particular, the e-Visa for Nigeria, which is frequently used for tourist and business stays. We handle the entire application process for you and carefully review your documents to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Those interested can find an overview of all relevant visa categories and the required documents on our visa overview for Nigeria. If you’re looking for additional information on the applicable fees, you’ll find it all on the page about costs for Nigeria. Given the ongoing security concerns in many parts of the country, we recommend applying for your visa well in advance and planning your trip carefully to avoid taking unnecessary risks once you’re there.