The United Kingdom has updated its security advisory to its nationals from ‘Amber’: ‘advise against all but essential travel, to ‘Green’.

On Monday, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice on the increased threat of terrorist attacks in Abuja. 

“The FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to the Federal Capital Territory, including the city of Abuja, but risks remain, and further details about the continued threat from terrorism in this region has been added,” the FCDO memo said. 

States in Nigeria where British nationals have been advised against all but essential travel include Bauchi, Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto, Kogi, Abia, Plateau, Taraba, within 20km of the border with Niger in Kebbi State and non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States.

They also advised against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and the riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

In late October, Australia, Canada and Ireland issued security advisories to their nationals living in Nigeria, particularly those in the FCT. The U.S. authorised the relocation of its embassy employees and their families from Abuja over potential terrorist attacks.

Though the Muhammadu Buhari-led regime dismissed the security concerns, the capital has come under attack in recent months following the Boko Haram raid on Kuje Prison and an attack on the Presidential Guards Brigade at Bwari in which three elite officers were killed. In July, schools in the capital and neighbouring states were shut down over security concerns.