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Tag: FCDO

  • UK issues travel advisory against 21 states

    UK issues travel advisory against 21 states

    The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised British citizens against traveling to 21 states in Nigeria.

    “Insecurity is increasing across Nigeria. Kidnapping, violent crime, and intercommunal violence occur throughout all regions,” the advisory, updated October 21, said. The FCDO said the advisory remained current as of yesterday.

    In the Northeast, the FCDO advised against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Gombe states, citing a risk of retaliatory attacks due to regular ongoing military operations.

    The office advised British citizens to embark on only essential travels to Bauchi State.

    “There is a high and increasing threat from Boko Haram or Islamic State West Africa, particularly around transport hubs, religious areas and large gatherings. Humanitarian personnel, vehicles, supplies and infrastructure can be targeted by terrorists and criminals,” the advisory said.

    In the Northwest, it said frequent banditry and violent attacks occurred with a high threat of kidnap, and incidents of inter-communal violence saw the FCDO advise against all travel to Katsina and Zamfara states.

    The office advised against all but essential travel to Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Sokoto states.

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    In the Northcentral, the FCDO warned against non-essential travel to Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba states.

    Abuja, the nation’s capital city, also drew concern. The FCDO noted that “violent crime, often involving firearms, has increased and spread from the outer suburbs to more central, wealthier areas of the city” and also pointed to protests “which can turn violent”.

    In the Southeast, the office cautioned against non-essential travel to Abia, Anambra, Imo, citing active secessionist groups, and non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states.

    In Lagos, the FCDO warned against high levels of crime, “particularly on the mainland,” naming street crime as a significant risk.

    A separate comprehensive travel advisor expanded on broader risks British citizens could face in Nigeria.

    The FCDO warned against withdrawing cash from ATMs at night due to a spike in criminal activity, and advised nationals against increasing financial scams across romance and work opportunities.

    “If you’re considering fertility treatment in Nigeria, be cautious. There have been a number of staged fake births (commonly called ‘miracle babies’) where visitors are falsely led to believe they have given birth,” the advisory reads, adding that the UK has restricted overseas adoption of children from Nigeria.

    “If you bring a child who is not biologically related to you into the UK without following the legal procedures, you could face prosecution and the child may not be eligible for British citizenship.”

    The advisory noted that there have been deaths and cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in Nigeria.

    “Avoid drinking unlicensed products,” the advisory warned, adding that it is not possible to identify methanol in alcoholic drinks by taste or smell.

    The document also alerted citizens to dangers of drowner swimming off the country’s coast due to rip tides and undertows.

  • PLANE partners media to advance Education reporting

    PLANE partners media to advance Education reporting

    The Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), an education programme funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has partnered with the media to enhance education reporting in the country.

    The Senior Education Adviser, British High Commission, Ian Attfield by working together with the media, Nigeria and the UK can be held jointly accountable to ensure all girls and boys can access quality, inclusive education.

    He spoke at a media parley in Abuja where the PLANE programme was introduced to key stakeholders in the media and sought their invaluable support in advancing education for all in Nigeria.

    Attfield said: “PLANE is a major UK investment, partnering with Nigeria to improve foundational reading and numeracy skills to address the learning crisis. By working together with the media, a powerful ally in promoting transparency and accountability, Nigeria and the UK can be held jointly accountable to ensure all girls and boys can access quality, inclusive education.”

    In line with the theme of the International Day of Education, “AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation” Attfield highlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence and technology in education and how its adoption using an inclusive approach can improve learning outcomes among the underserved and persons with disabilities.

    He commended the Federal Ministry of Education on its introduction of eLearn, a centralised digital platform that provides high quality, curriculum-aligned resources for learners and teachers from basic to tertiary level.

    Launched in 2024, with PLANE’s support, the platform has modern accessibility features that create equitable access to educational resources.

    Deputy National Team Lead for PLANE, Sam Achimugu: “PLANE looks to the media as vital partners in amplifying its mission and mobilising collective action. In the states where we work, we have recorded progress in addressing systemic challenges and promoting innovative learning solutions. However, for improved outcomes in education nationally, there needs to be continuous advocacy on access and quality.”

    At the parley, senior officials of the PLANE programme revealed that it is a seven-year programme which started in 2021, with a mission to support the Nigerian government in improving learning outcomes in the basic education subsector.

    Part of the achievements recorded so far under the programme included improving education delivery through policy improvement and capacity building of state and non-state education providers.

    The programme through its transforming learning approach has reached over 1 million learners and 10,000 teachers with foundational learning packages in the target states of Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa.

    PLANE at the media parley emphasised the pressing need for more inclusive, equitable, and innovative approaches to learning in Nigeria, and called for the collaboration of media as a critical stakeholder in driving policy awareness, advocacy, and implementation.

    Media stakeholders in attendance were charged to be change agents leveraging their platforms to tell the stories that matter, promote accountability, highlight both successes and challenges and inspire the needed change towards securing a brighter future for every Nigerian child, irrespective of their background or location.

    Participants expressed a strong commitment to the cause, acknowledged the media’s transformative role and pledged continued support to advance education initiatives and discourse.