Travel Advice for Nigeria - Australian Govt.


This message is on the Australian travel advisory website (http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Nigeria ) about traveling to Nigeria:

There is a high level of serious crime throughout Nigeria. Violent assault, armed robbery, rape and carjacking across Nigeria are prevalent. There is a higher risk of crime in and around the Lagos international airport, on the roads between the airports in Lagos and Abuja, and when travelling unaccompanied in taxis. Prearranged collection/drop off airport arrangements by someone who knows you or properly identifies themselves can help to minimise risks. Criminals have been known to pose as police or military personnel, injured or pregnant women and bogus greeters at the airport.

Crime increases at night in most areas, particularly in Abuja and Lagos. Both authorised and unauthorised checkpoints abound in Abuja city centre and heavily-armed extortionists commonly make demands on civilians.

The number of armed robberies reported in Lagos recently has increased, with most of these attacks occurring after 10pm. Non-essential travel around the city after 10pm should be avoided.

Assaults and robberies are common on public transport. Visitors have been abducted and robbed when collected from their hotel by criminals claiming to represent a company where the visitor has an appointment. You should use a reputable hire car company or hire cars with drivers as offered by most major hotels. Make sure you can identify anyone collecting you from your hotel. You should question any last minute changes in arrangements and should not disclose personal information unnecessarily.

Due to the very high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.

Commercial and internet fraud is prevalent and often originates in Nigeria. Victims have been defrauded and those who travel to the originating country have had their lives endangered. Some victims have been killed. Criminals have been known to seek details of 'safe' bank accounts overseas in which to transfer large sums of money (as a donation or for a percentage of the amount involved). They may also provide fake cashier cheques for 'urgent' shipments of large quantities of goods, request sizeable fees for a fake Nigerian government contract or to supply crude oil and extort money from individuals they have convinced to travel to Nigeria for a business opportunity. If you are a victim of a Nigerian financial scam, we advise you to obtain legal advice and not to travel to Nigeria to seek restitution as there is a risk of physical assault from the perpetrators. Our information on International Financial Scams provides more detail on these types of scams.

There have also been reports of phone calls and emails to relatives and friends in Australia from bogus hospitals or doctors in Nigeria claiming that an Australian traveller has been injured and money is required to be sent for medical treatment. Your relatives and friends in Australia should make sure that the contact is genuine as this is a common method of extorting money. Treat any requests for money from Nigeria with caution.

Some Australian citizens have also been defrauded or had their lives endangered by bogus internet friendship, dating and marriage schemes operating from West African countries. These scams typically result from connections made through internet dating schemes or chat rooms. Once a virtual relationship develops, the Australian citizen is asked by their friend or prospective marriage partner to send money to enable travel to Australia. Once the money has been received, the relationship is usually terminated and any chance of recovering the funds is highly unlikely. In some instances, foreigners who have travelled to Africa to meet their friend or prospective marriage partner have been kidnapped and held to ransom.


Local Travel

Driving in Nigeria can be dangerous, especially at night, due to poorly maintained roads and vehicles, poor local driving habits, unpredictable pedestrians and inadequate road lighting. Vehicle checkpoints are common throughout the country and you may be expected to show identity documents and car registration and ownership papers. You should avoid unnecessary travel after dark. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.

Fuel shortages are common and motorists should ensure they have adequate fuel for their journey, particularly in the northern regions.

The Port Harcourt airport has limited daylight operations for some domestic carriers. Full operations, including international flights, will not resume until the airfield lighting system is completed.

Piracy occurs in the coastal areas of the Bayelsa area of the Niger delta and near Lagos. See our travel advice on shipping and ports for more information. The International Maritime Bureau issues weekly piracy reports on its web site.

Very True - I wonder where the facts come from. Every time i visit Nigeria i have to pray before and during the trip. Infact my relationship with God goes two noches up.

Dem dey craze!!

All this crimes are common in new york as well.

Where have we heard of rampant kidnappings in Lagos. armed robbery yes but not kidnappings.

We have rape in London everyday, HIV is on the rise in the west, Africans probably practice more safe sex compared to westerners due to awareness.

There is a high level of serious crime throughout Nigeria. Violent assault, armed robbery, rape and carjacking across Nigeria are prevalent.

Who are these racist aussies The same people whose main jokes are about black people?

No mind them. aborigines in their country dem neva take care of they are here yanning dust

Lagosboy:

No mind them. aborigines in their country dem neva take care of they are here yanning dust

they dont treat aborigines as human beings. They are the most racist people in the world. they are just trying to pretend not to be so because England is trying to distance herself from racism. Australians used to have the slogan that Australia is for white people. . . they had it till recent years and most of them still have that in their heads. They dont like seeing non-white people.

blacksta:

Very True - I wonder where the facts come from. Every time i visit Nigeria i have to pray before and during the trip. Infact my relationship with God goes two noches up.

my brother nobody beg you to come naija. all those rubbish stated above are common in most other countries take like south africa which has the highest crime rate in africa quote me. as for those aussies that dont know where they actually migrated from. someone should tell them that australia really belongs to the aborigenes not the aussies.they should go and find thier roots

This is message is embarrassingly true