The United States Department of State updated its global travel advisory on Thursday, classifying 23 nations under Level 4: Do Not Travel, the most severe category in its advisory system. The warning was announced through the department’s official TravelGov X account, emphasizing that these destinations pose extreme security risks or have limited capacity for the US government to provide consular assistance.
“We issue Travel Advisories with Levels 1–4. Level 4 means DO NOT TRAVEL. We assign Level 4 based on local conditions and/or our limited ability to help Americans there,” the department stated. It added a blunt warning: “These places are dangerous. Do not go for ANY reason.”
Countries Under Level 4 Advisory
The 23 countries currently under the Level 4 advisory are: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, Ukraine, and Yemen. Africa accounts for nearly half of the list, with 11 nations affected.
Nigerian States Americans Are Advised to Avoid
Although Nigeria remains under a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory, the US has designated several states under the stricter Level 4: Do Not Travel category. In northern Nigeria, the affected states are Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, and northern Adamawa. In the South-South and South-East, the advisory applies to Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states. However, Port Harcourt is specifically excluded from the Rivers State warning.
Reasons for the Advisory
The State Department said Americans should reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest, and inconsistent healthcare services. The advisory reflects Washington’s internal risk evaluation procedures.
Nigeria Rejects US Assessment
The Nigerian government has rejected the US travel advisory assessment, arguing that it reflects Washington’s internal risk evaluation procedures rather than a comprehensive judgment of Nigeria’s overall security situation. Officials maintain that security efforts are ongoing across the country, even as the US continues to caution its citizens against travel to specific high-risk regions, according to a BusinessDay report.
