The Federal Government has moved to reassure Nigerians and foreign nationals of ongoing improvements in national security following a new travel advisory issued by the United Kingdom.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office had warned its citizens against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara states over rising terrorism, kidnappings and violent attacks.
It also advised against all but essential travel to Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba and parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
Responding to the development, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told Punch on Sunday that the government was aware of security challenges in certain parts of the country and was “making concerted efforts to address them.”
According to him, President Bola Tinubu has recently restructured the nation’s security architecture and increased investment in military equipment, surveillance systems and intelligence operations.
Idris said, “Our security challenges will soon be a thing of the past. We want to give tacit assurances that we are gradually improving security in our cities and communities. All foreign nationals in Nigeria are guaranteed their safety as the government implements more effective security measures.”
However, the Gombe State Government faulted the advisory, describing the UK’s categorisation of the state as unsafe as “unfounded and unfair.”
Speaking on Sunday, the Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House Gombe, Ismaila Misilli, insisted that the state remained one of the most peaceful in the country.
He said, “We are surprised and disappointed by this classification of our dear state among the unsafe states. Gombe State has consistently been rated by credible organisations and security agencies as one of the most peaceful and stable states in Nigeria.”
Misilli argued that there had been no incidents of insurgency, banditry, communal crisis or major security threats in recent years, questioning the basis for the UK’s assessment.
“We really wonder what indices were used to arrive at this conclusion by the UK government,” he said, urging Nigerians and international partners to disregard the advisory.
Similarly, the Kano State Government described the advisory as routine but insisted that it did not reflect current realities in the state.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mustapha Muhammad, said the state government had intensified security measures and stepped up cooperation with military and security agencies.
He said, “In the areas affected, our military and security agencies are working tirelessly to contain the threats. Our security forces have been strategically deployed, especially in border areas where bandits attempt to cross in from Katsina, to ensure the safety of our communities.”
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