With effect from 8 June, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has increased the level of its warning for travel to certain parts of Nigeria:
Still Current at: 10 June 2007
Updated: 8 June 2007
Nigeria
This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary and Terrorism section (British nationals advised to leave Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States, including Port Harcourt). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
SUMMARY
We advise against all travel to the Niger Delta (Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States, including Port Harcourt). This is because of the very high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and other armed attacks in these areas. In 15 separate incidents since January 2006, 31 British nationals and over 180 foreign nationals have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta area and one Briton has been killed. See the Terrorism /Security section of this travel advice for more details.
We advise that the security situation in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States makes them unsafe for British nationals. We therefore advise British nationals to leave. If you stay, you do so at your own risk and should take professional security advice. The level of consular assistance we can provide is limited.
We advise against all but essential travel to Akwa Ibom State because of the high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and other armed attacks. You should maintain a high level of vigilance at all times, observe the strictest security measures and not travel unnecessarily. If travelling by road you should use fully protected transport. Six Russian nationals were abducted from a compound in Akwa Ibom State on 3 June 2007.
The high risk of kidnappings and other armed attacks in the Niger Delta applies also to ships and oil rigs at sea off the coast of the Delta. In 2007 there has been an increase in attacks offshore.
There is also a risk of kidnapping in other States in south-east Nigeria. On 17 March 2007, two Chinese nationals were abducted at Nnewi, Anambra State. See the Terrorism/Security section of this travel advice for more details.
For those who want the advice in full the website is:
FCO Travel Advisory, Nigeria
The Canadian Foreign Affairs and International Trade has a similar warning:
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against all travel to the region(s) specified below. (IDW5)
Canadians are advised against all travel to the Niger Delta states of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers, as well as the surrounding states of Imo, Akwa Ibom and Anambra. Post-election unrest has increased in Bayelsa and Rivers states in particular and will likely continue beyond the 29 May 2007 inauguration of the new Nigerian President and state government officials.
Canadians residing in the Niger Delta should regularly review their personal circumstances and consider departing from the region if their continued presence is not warranted.
Canadians are advised against all travel to the Niger Delta area due to the ongoing and increased targeting of expatriate oil workers, state government buildings, and possibility of violent protests. Militants in the Niger Delta have explicitly and repeatedly told expatriates to depart the region, and have recently warned of expanding activities well outside the Niger Delta states. A particularly high level of personal security awareness must be maintained in the city of Port Harcourt, and in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Anambra states. On-going abductions in the Niger Delta region have expanded to include oil and non-oil sector personnel. Bomb attacks have targeted oil sector and government properties.
The danger of being in the wrong place at the wrong time is amplified due to an increased military presence in the Niger Delta, where military and militants are frequently engaging in firefights. This post-election period has seen a further increase of instability which may continue indefinitely. You should always maintain a high level of security awareness and inquire about local conditions when travelling in the country. Avoid large crowds and demonstrations; and follow local news reports.
The USA Department of State has not yet gone this far, possibly because Nigeria now ranks as the world's fourth largest provider of crude oil to the USA. If the Americans were to leave, production woulkd fall further.
Many of us are still working in the Delta areas and are perfectly aware of, and willing to accept the risks involved provided our companies provide an appropriate level of security to lessen the possibility of being kidnapped. However, the travel advisories from UK and Canada, particularly that of UK, advising Brits to leave may have one consequence that has been overlooked - that of personal insurance cover. I'd advise pilots and engineers working in the Niger Delta region to check the small print in their policies and make sure that they are still covered. Nobody would like the thought of their family being left in the lurch in the event that they are kidnapped or seriously injured whilst working in this area. If anybody knows if either Bristow or CHC have taken steps to ensure that their employees in this area are still fully covered by insurance, it would probably be useful if it could be posted here.
It will come as no surprise to many who have been in the area that blame for much of the continuing level of violence is being laid at the door of the ex-Governor of Rivers State (a man now apparently being considered for the post of Minister of Petroleum!
) as the following report highlights:
CIRCUMSTANCES surrounding the unabating spate of violence in the Niger Delta area, Nigeria's main oil and gas region, have started to creep into the open, with a faction of the armed youths pointing accusing finger at the direction of the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili.
This unfolding claim might assist the security forces to get to the bottom of the worsening unease in the oil region. A faction of the Movement for the Emmancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) that labels itself ''MEND Authentic'' said in a wired statement to Scoop on Friday, that Odili allegedly oiled the activities of the sorawling militia cells in the oil and gas region.
Spokesman for the MEND slinter group, Akpos Nabena, said Odili's eight years as the governor of Rivers State was riddled with ''violence, destruction,and killings'', adding that when they were about to heave a sigh of relief that Odili was on his way out with all his disturbances and vices, ''we have come to realize that Odili is not in a hurry to leave us alone''.
According to them, ''on the eve of Odili's departure on the 28th of May 2007, there was a curious security report circulating in the state that one cult and gang leader Prince Igodo of Tombia and others were about to disrupt the inauguration of Sir., Celestine Omehia as the new Governor of Rivers, the next day being 29th May 2007. In the light of this,Odilli's security chief, called a meeting of Henry Okah, Gbomo Jomo Master's MEND at Government House. At the meeting, large sums of money were disbursed to Henry Okah to finish Prince Igodo and his men at Tombia. Consequently in the early hours of May 29th 2007, an amanda of boats attacked Tombia led by Soboma George and Farah. At the end of the battle, there were casualties on both sides, and Prince Igodo was fatally injured and died later among his men''.
The group allegedly later proceeded to attack Obuama where they burnt down the house Mr. Tonye Harry, the new Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, the house of Chief O.C Harry, Paramount Chief of Obuama and the Ultra Modern Obuama town hall.
It's obvious that the new government is still not getting to grips with the situation, so take care out there guys, and have a good check on your insurance policies. For anyone considering coming to work in Nigeria, just make sure that you have arranged adequate insurance cover before coming over and that your insurer knows where you are working, so you don't get caught out by some nasty little exclusion clause in the small print.