FG Condemns U.S. Travel Advisory, Calls for Stronger Nigerian Narrative

The Federal Government has criticized the recent travel advisory issued by the United States warning its citizens against traveling to Nigeria due to rising insecurity, describing it as unjustified and potentially damaging to Nigeria’s image.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, expressed the government’s displeasure during the annual retreat of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group, organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in Abuja. Speaking through his Special Assistant on Media and Communication Strategy, Alkazeem Abdulkadir, Tuggar argued that no country, including the U.S., is immune to security challenges.

The U.S. advisory, published on the website of its mission in Nigeria, cited high risks of crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and poor healthcare services. It specifically warned against travel to several Nigerian states including Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and parts of the South-East and South-South, noting that kidnappers often target dual citizens and perceived wealthy individuals, sometimes stopping victims on highways.

In response, Tuggar called the advisory “unfortunate” and noted that the U.S. itself recorded around 47,000 gun-related deaths in 2024, with a projected 45,000 deaths in 2025. He stressed that Nigeria must learn to respond proactively to such advisories, referencing past counter-advisories issued against Australia and the UK.

“There’s a saying that if the lion doesn’t learn to write, the hunter will always be glorified. This is why we must begin to tell our own stories and challenge biased narratives,” Tuggar said, urging Nigerians to take control of the country’s global image.

He emphasized the importance of media diplomacy in reshaping perceptions, promoting unity, attracting foreign investment, and projecting Nigeria as a responsible global actor under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

Public Relations expert Modupe Adetokunbo, in his keynote address, lamented the growing negative global perception of Nigeria, linking it to worsening social and economic conditions. He noted that many Nigerians now respond to everyday questions with resignation and despair, reflecting deeper frustrations and loss of hope.

Adetokunbo pointed to viral videos, such as one showing police officers accepting cash from foreigners, as symptomatic of broader societal issues, including the normalization of begging and erosion of dignity.

Echoing these concerns, Dr. Ike Neliaku, President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, called for deliberate efforts to spotlight Nigeria’s achievements. He highlighted stories like the Super Falcons’ performance and a Nigerian girl’s exceptional math skills as examples of untold successes.

“The problem isn’t the absence of good stories, but our failure to tell them,” Neliaku said. “If we don’t shape our own narrative, others will do it for us—often to our detriment. It’s time Nigerians reclaimed their voice in global discourse.”