FG urges US to stop portraying Nigeria negatively through travel advisories

FG urges US to stop portraying Nigeria negatively through travel advisories

The Federal Government on Tuesday criticized the latest travel advisory issued by the United States, which warned its citizens against traveling to Nigeria due to increasing insecurity.

It described the advisory as unjustified and urged the US government to refrain from actions that could undermine Nigeria’s image.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, expressed the government’s concerns during the annual retreat of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group, organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in Abuja.

The US advisory had cited concerns over crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and limited access to healthcare services as reasons for cautioning its citizens against visiting Nigeria.

The warning, published on the website of the US Mission in Nigeria, stated: “Overall, all locations carry significant security risks. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

“Do Not Travel to Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and northern Adamawa states due to terrorism and kidnapping. Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states due to kidnapping. Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states (with the exception of Port Harcourt) due to crime, kidnapping, and armed gangs.

“They primarily target dual national citizens visiting Nigeria and US citizens perceived as wealthy. Kidnapping gangs have also stopped victims on interstate roads.”

Reacting, Tuggar described the advisory as unfortunate.

Represented by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication Strategy, Alkazeem Abdulkadir, the minister said no nation, including the United States, could boast of absolute security.

He said, “There is a saying that if the lion does not learn how to write stories, the game will always glorify the hunter. I share this proverb with you because in 2024, about 47,000 people died from gun violence in America. Again, it is projected that in 2025, 45,000 people will die from gun violence in the same America.

“But because we have not articulated or replied to their travel advisory, we have empowered them to continue writing these things against us. A year ago, we wrote a travel advisory against Australia because they published one against us.

“We also wrote a travel advisory against the UK because they published one against us. In the ministry, we call this self-flagellation, where we, as Nigerians, are very prone to laugh at ourselves.”

He stressed that Nigeria must be more proactive in controlling its narrative in a global information space that is increasingly manipulated.

He added, “In such a context, your expertise becomes indispensable, not only in managing reputation but in framing the national narrative with clarity, integrity, and patriotic purpose.

“As Nigeria repositions itself on the global stage under the visionary leadership of President Bola Tinubu, your work becomes even more strategic.

This is a time for media diplomacy to foster national unity, attract investment, strengthen bilateral relationships, and promote Nigeria as a capable voice in the global conversation.”

In his keynote presentation, Public Relations expert, Modupe Adetokunbo, lamented the growing negative perception of Nigeria, linking it to social and economic challenges.

He said, “The prevailing perception when a typical Nigerian is confronted with a question, How are you doing? The answer has escalated over time from, ‘we thank God’ to ‘It is well.’

“That’s where you see ‘japa’, pent-up anger, capital flight and begging. Begging now has moved from the streets to homes and institutions. People are no longer ashamed of begging.

“There was a video that went viral the other time where some foreigners came into the country and were sharing money with the police. That’s a reflection of the larger society, not just about police,” he said.

The President and Chairman of Council, Dr Ike Neliaku, also underscored the need for Nigeria to own and amplify its success stories instead of leaving the international community to shape its image.

Neliaku warned that no organisation could best tell the story of the country except the Nigerian people.

He said, “Nigeria doesn’t lack powerful stories—we have many worth sharing. Today alone, we’re celebrating the Super Falcons and a young girl who has excelled in mathematics.

“The real issue, however, is that we don’t tell our own stories enough, while often amplifying the stories of others. It’s time we take control of our narrative and tell our stories in our own voice, rather than letting outsiders define who we are.

“Many people don’t realize this, but it’s all about programming. We’ve been subtly conditioned to undervalue ourselves, and unfortunately, we’ve come to accept that mindset.

“I’ve always maintained that, by any standard, Nigeria remains one of the greatest nations in the world.”