The United Kingdom has issued fresh travel warnings covering parts of 30 Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory, advising its citizens to avoid 15 states entirely and undertake only essential journeys to others.
The updated guidance was published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Thursday, August 20, 2026, as part of its latest Nigeria travel advice.
Under the most severe warning, British nationals have been advised against all travel to six states and specific riverine areas in five others.
Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe in the North-East, as well as Katsina and Zamfara in the North-West, fall under the “all travel” restriction.
The warning also applies to riverine parts of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in the South-South.
The FCDO describes the affected riverine locations as “the river and swamp locations accessible by boat, but not by road.”
Essential Travel Only In 19 States, Abuja
The UK government has also placed another group of states under an “all but essential travel” warning.
The affected states include Bauchi in the North-East, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa and Sokoto in the North-West, and Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Kwara and Benue in the North-Central region.
In the South-East, the advisory covers Abia, Anambra and Imo.
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Travellers are also advised to avoid non-essential trips to non-riverine parts of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states.
The Federal Capital Territory, including Abuja, is also covered by the “all but essential travel” advisory.
UK Warns Travellers About Insurance
The FCDO cautioned British nationals against assuming that any journey can be considered completely risk-free.
“No travel can be guaranteed safe,” it said.
The department advised those intending to visit Nigeria to review its travel guidance before departure, while also urging travellers to “research your destinations” and “get appropriate travel insurance”.
It warned that travellers who ignore the official guidance could face problems with their insurance coverage.
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).”
The UK government said travellers should ensure their insurance covers their full itinerary, planned activities and potential emergency costs.
Advisory Also Covers Health And Other Risks
The latest guidance is not limited to security concerns. It also contains information on entry requirements, health, regional risks and procedures for obtaining assistance while in Nigeria.
The FCDO also included warnings relating to IVF and fertility treatment scams, as well as information concerning overseas adoption.
The latest update therefore gives British travellers a detailed assessment of areas where the UK considers travel risks particularly high and provides guidance on precautions to take when visiting other parts of Nigeria.