Foreign Travel Advice And Nigeria

The United States of America (USA) and Canada recently warned her citizens against traveling to Nigeria, except of course, such trips are essential, in view of security concerns in the country.

In separate travel warnings, both the US Department of State and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs specifically listed Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States all in South-South Nigeria; Abia and Imo in South-East; Bauchi, Plateau and Borno, in the North and the Gulf of Guinea, as totalling unsafe for their citizens.

While describing the Nigerian security situation as unsafe and unpredictable, both advisories alleged that ‘violent crime committed by individuals and gangs, as well as by persons wearing police and military uniforms remains a problem through out the country.’

Ordinarily, there is nothing wrong with any nation-state, desirous to protect her citizenry from harm abroad, to periodically issue travel warnings, but the nature and timing of the US/Canada advisories leave a lot to be desired, particularly, considering the fact that both the Federal and state governments have been pursuing proactive measures designed to address  in a lasting manner, the prevailing security concerns. Such measures include improved Policing, better and more professional inter-departmental intelligence gathering and sharing and more importantly, re-equipping of the nations security institutions.

Yes, the extremist sect, Boko Haram and a pocket of what is left of the movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), after the Amnesty regime, still pose some danger to Nigerian internal security, but not as bad as the US and Canadian governments make it appear. In fact, the horrible picture painted of some Niger Delta States like Rivers, Edo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and indeed Delta is over-exaggerated.

Assuming, but not conceding that the situation is bad, the US should be the last nation-state to abandon Nigeria in times of challenges of the kind that the country today grapples with.

For one thing, as two long-term investment partners, both the US and Nigeria have over the years enjoyed mutually beneficial bi-lateral relation, that ought not to collapse as easily as one built on frivolities, all in the name of security concern.

Infact, the opposite is true in Rivers State where, foreign investors daily surge for productive investment talks due largely to the secure environment and friendly hosts.

This is why, rather than aggravate the situation, which the US travel advisory has tended to do, no matter how inadvertently, Washington ought to demonstrate deeper understanding and reasonable support, herself haven tasted worse security threats and attacks by similar hateful criminals. No nation, not even the US is free from crime and criminals but Nigeria has never, in such instances, advised her citizens against travels to America. Nigeria had instead been most supportive in the protection of US investments and citizens in Africa.

Furthermore, Nigeria, like all other nations, including the US, needs peace, investment partners and dependable friends to develop. However, these can only be enhanced by creating a conducive investment climate free from the now familiar security threats and ill-advised attacks by both the Boko Haram and MEND.

Therefore, rather than sulk over the situation, the federal government and indeed the affected states should see the unfavourable US travel warning as a wake-up call to address urgent concerns. They must be more proactive in fighting crime and checking all forms of terror-related activities and that way make safety of human lives and property a common asset.

Furthermore, governments in all tiers must re-dedicate themselves towards addressing issues like illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, infrastructural development, electric power supply, hunger, disease and the culture of impunity among many other prevalent maladies which have been, blamed severally for the now frequent resurgence of violent protests and reprisal attacks.

To succeed also, Nigeria needs friends like the US and Canada who rather than abandon an ally in need, should be supportive and understanding in these times that Nigeria is in.