US Expands “Do Not Travel” List to Eight States
The United States Department of State has expanded its “Do Not Travel” designation to include Plateau, Kwara, and Niger states, alongside Jigawa and Taraba, as part of a sweeping security reassessment that has triggered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel from its Abuja embassy. The updated advisory, issued on April 8, 2026, brings the total number of Nigerian states under the highest risk classification to eight, reflecting what American officials describe as a rapidly deteriorating security landscape.
The newly elevated states join Borno, Kogi, Yobe, and Northern Adamawa in the Level 4 category, which prohibits travel by US government personnel and warns American citizens against visiting these areas entirely. “The security situation in these states is unstable and uncertain due to civil unrest. Widespread violence between communities and armed crime, including kidnapping and roadside banditry,” the advisory stated. “Security operations to counter these threats may occur without warning.”
The expansion of the highest-risk list coincided with the authorisation for “non-emergency US government employees and US government employee family members to leave US Embassy Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation.” This directive marks a significant reduction in American diplomatic presence and signals deepening concern over the trajectory of internal security challenges across multiple geopolitical zones.
Beyond the eight states under absolute travel prohibition, the advisory identifies eight additional northern states—Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara—as presenting severe risks due to unrest and kidnapping. The cumulative effect places 16 northern states under various forms of US travel restrictions, underscoring the regional concentration of violent activity attributed to bandit networks, communal conflicts, and terrorism.
The security assessment extends to southern Nigeria, where six states face distinct warnings. Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers (excluding Port Harcourt) were flagged for widespread criminal activity, with the State Department cautioning that “crime is widespread in Southern Nigeria. There is a high risk of kidnapping, violent protests, and armed gangs.” The advisory notes that American citizens are specifically targeted for abduction based on perceptions of wealth, with armed robbery and carjacking remaining prevalent.
Terrorism threats persist across public venues nationwide, including markets, shopping centres, hotels, and places of worship. The advisory further highlights that Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure is inconsistent and generally falls below American and European standards, compounding risks for travellers who encounter medical emergencies.
The overall threat level for Nigeria remains at Level 3: Reconsider Travel, while the designated states carry the Level 4: Do Not Travel classification. For Americans who proceed with travel despite these warnings, the State Department mandated enrolment in the Smart Traveller Enrolment Program and advised the establishment of “proof of life” protocols alongside extreme caution regarding demonstrations and large gatherings.
The elevation of Plateau, Kwara, and Niger to the highest risk tier reflects specific security developments in these states, which have experienced varying degrees of communal violence, armed banditry, and security force operations in recent months. The inclusion of these states suggests that American intelligence assessments have identified intensifying threats that warrant alignment with the most restrictive travel categories previously reserved for the epicentre of Boko Haram activity and persistent terrorism zones.