Overall Crime and Safety Situation
Crime Rating: Critical
Crime Threats
Crime is a risk throughout the country. U.S. visitors and residents
experienced armed muggings, assaults, burglaries, carjackings, rapes,
kidnappings, and extortion.
Home invasions remain a serious threat, with armed robbers threatening
even guarded compounds by scaling perimeter walls, following
residents/visitors, or subduing guards to gain entry. Armed robbers in
Lagos have invaded waterfront compounds by boat.
U.S. citizens, Nigerians, and other expatriates have been victims of
armed robbery at banks and grocery stores and on airport roads during
both daylight and evening hours.
Armed robbers have targeted occupants in vehicles, and smash-and-grab
robberies are common with thieves canvassing stopped vehicles for
valuables. The thieves will break the vehicle window or simply reach in
and remove items while the vehicle is stopped in traffic.
The mainland of Lagos has experienced periodic, violent clashes among street gangs known as “Area Boys.”
Cyber
Lagos and southern Nigeria appear to be an epicenter of identity-related
and financial crimes targeting Nigerians, expatriates, and U.S.
citizens/companies in the U.S. Victims are frequently targeted by email
in advance fee scams commonly referred to as “419 Scams.” The victims
are asked to provide funds to assist someone in a business or financial
transaction for a reward or compensation that the victim never sees.
Even if the perpetrator is caught, the money is not typically recovered.
Other variations of these scams involve a victim who believes s/he is
in a relationship with someone they have never met in person. As the
scam progresses, the victim is asked to provide funds to support this
individual. These scams often center on some type of tragedy
(kidnapping, major medical incident) claimed by the perpetrator.
Areas of Concern
Never photograph public buildings, monuments, or airports. Some
Nigerians may object to having their pictures taken; always ask
permission first.
The Niger Delta region experiences frequent attacks and other crimes by
armed local groups who continue to fight for control of the region’s
resources, particularly oil. Oil pipeline vandalism is common and a
major source of lost revenue; pipeline vandals have also attacked and
killed government security forces. Oil theft, known locally as
“bunkering,” is widespread and adds to the disruption of business.
Piracy and kidnapping continue to be of major concern, and Westerners,
including Americans, have been victims.
Transportation-Safety Situation
Road Safety and Road Conditions
Driving is a major safety concern throughout Nigeria. Although traffic
laws exist, enforcement remains almost non-existent. Authorities do not
require safety inspections of vehicles. The lack of traffic laws, poorly
maintained roads, and unpredictable driving habits add to the risk of
travel. Driving during daylight hours is preferable, and driving at
night, particularly in remote areas, should be avoided.
Accidents are frequent and often involve fatalities. Many traffic
accidents go unreported, and no reliable statistics exist on traffic
fatalities due to the lack of centralized reporting. Vehicular accidents
frequently draw large crowds that may become confrontational. The lack
of medical responses or adequate trauma facilities is also a concern.
Never leave identifying materials or valuables in a vehicle. Traveling
outside of major cities after dark is not recommended because of both
crime and road safety concerns. Keep vehicles well-maintained, including
a usable spare tire and a full tank of fuel. Remain a safe distance
behind the vehicle ahead to allow space for avoidance maneuvers, if
necessary. Be alert for suspicious persons when exiting or approaching
your vehicle.
Public Transportation Conditions
All public transportation is considered unsafe and its use discouraged.
Motorcycle taxis, commonly known as “okadas,” are of particular concern.
Okadas present a significant nuisance and danger to other motorists
with unpredictable driving and lack of compliance with all traffic
rules. Okada drivers and even their passengers often become
confrontational and violent when involved in accidents. Okada drivers
are also known to engage in crime, either as active participants or as
means of escape.
Aviation/Airport Conditions
Armed robberies and attacks focus on both businesses in the immediate
vicinity of Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) and arriving
passengers. In July 2013, a British citizen was kidnapped while being
driven from the airport. The victim was released. Security at MMIA has
improved, and airport officials comply with Transportation Security
Administration security standards. TSA conducts regular security
assessments at MMIA. Travelers can expect to be approached by transients
asking for money, sometimes aggressively. Reports of extortion and
bribery solicitation attempts by airport officials have also receded but
remain a concern.
Other Travel Conditions
U.S. citizens, Nigerians, and expatriates have experienced harassment
and shakedowns at vehicle checkpoints and during other encounters with
officials, particularly the military. Always slow down and acknowledge
police/military at checkpoints. Police are authorized to shoot and will
if you do not stop.
Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence
The presidential election is scheduled for March 28, 2015, and the state
gubernatorial elections are scheduled for April 11, 2015.
Politically-related violence during the national election held in 2011
led to the death of 800 people, mostly in northern Nigeria. Political
party offices of both major parties were attacked in January 2015,
including two offices of the All Progressives Party office in Rivers
state. A People’s Democratic Party office was set ablaze in Zamfara
state the same week. Several large political rallies were held in
January 2015, and although generally peaceful, reports emerged of crime
and violence during the rallies.
Political Violence Rating: High
Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns
There remains a significant terrorist threat, especially in northern
Nigeria. Efforts to combat terrorism and organized crime continued to
prove challenging due to systemic corruption, limited operational
capacity, and an ineffective military. The extremist group Boko Haram is
suspected of, or has claimed responsibility for, most of the terrorist
activity in Nigeria. Boko Haram carried out kidnappings, killings,
bombings, and attacks on civilian and military targets, resulting in
over 4,000 deaths, injuries, and significant destruction of property in
2014. While Boko Haram has not claimed responsibility for attacks in the
south of the country, it is widely believed the group was responsible
for the December 2014 prison break in Ekiti state and a bomb attack at
an oil depot in Apapa, Lagos state.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) experienced bombings in April, May,
and June 2014. Several hundred people were killed in two attacks, two
weeks apart, at a busy bus terminal on the outskirts of Abuja in April
and May; another explosion occurred at a shopping complex in central
Abuja in June 2014. Although there is no indication Boko Haram or any
other terrorist organization is specifically targeting Americans or
other Westerners, the terror threat continues to challenge business
activity and travel.
Terrorism Rating: High
Anti-American/Anti-Western Sentiment
There were no major protests against the U.S. in 2014. In September
2012, large protests occurred outside the U.S. Embassy in Abuja,
coinciding with similar anti-U.S. protests worldwide. There have been
several generally peaceful protests, voicing opinion against U.S.
foreign policy. Most Nigerians have a favorable opinion of the U.S., and
Americans are typically not targeted solely because they are American.
Civil Unrest
Endemic poverty, lack of basic infrastructure (reliable electricity),
income inequality, unemployment, and a poor education system generally
lead to mass dissatisfaction among the local population. Oil unions,
judiciary staff, teachers, and health care workers were among those who
carried out protests against the government in 2014. The majority of the
protests was peaceful and carried out in compliance with local law. In
November 2014, police arrested seven people after deploying tear gas at
the National Assembly building following reports of intruders trying to
gain access.
Travelers are advised to avoid these mass gatherings if possible.
Religious/Ethnic Violence
Ethnic and communal violence is endemic, particularly in the “Middle
Belt” states of Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna, and Nassawara. With over
40 ethno-linguistic groups in Plateau state alone, clashes are
commonplace, but violence is largely localized. The U.S. Council on
Foreign Relations estimates that 785 sectarian-related deaths occurred
in Plateau state between 2011 and 2013. The U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom estimates that approximately 14,000
Nigerians have died from sectarian violence since 1999, indicating that
more Nigerians were killed by sectarian violence than by terrorism.
Perpetrators are rarely prosecuted, and there is a common belief that
some of the violence is politically-motivated. Most clashes center on
land disputes between nomadic cattle herders and resident farmers.
Reprisal attacks are common and lead to a perpetual cycle of violence in
the Middle Belt region. Although always a concern for travelers,
foreigners are not typically targeted by this inter-communal violence.
Post-specific Concerns
Environmental Hazards
Lagos ranks among the cities with the highest air and noise pollution
levels globally, largely due to rapid urbanization, limited
infrastructure, and a rapidly growing population. These conditions lead
to an increased number of vehicles on the road, poor graded gasoline,
and the extensive use of loud generators.
Nigeria has two rainy seasons: March-August, September-mid-October. In
2012, Nigeria experienced the worst flooding in many years, which
resulted in over one million people displaced and several hundred dead.
Many states in the south were dramatically affected, especially those in
the flood prone Niger Delta. Additionally, many dams were in danger of
failure. Some additional flooding was caused by the intentional release
of water in many reservoirs to help ensure their integrity. Road travel
is virtually impossible under these weather conditions.
Kidnapping Threat
Kidnapping for ransom (KFR) continues to be a security concern
nationwide and is a lucrative industry. Criminal organizations target
affluent, high-profile Nigerians and expatriates, particularly in Lagos,
Edo, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states. However, kidnapping incidents
in the north are typically ideologically-motivated. Kidnapping incidents
are under-reported, and the rate of unconfirmed kidnappings continues
to grow.
A German citizen kidnapped in Adamawa state in July 2014 was rescued by
Cameroonian forces in January 2015 after a military rescue operation on
the Cameroonian border. On April 14, Boko Haram attacked a girls’
secondary school in Chibok, Borno state, and, according to the Nigerian
police, abducted 276 girls. Of them, 57 students escaped while being
transported to a remote camp. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau stated
in a video that the girls were considered “spoils of war” and would
become brides of Boko Haram members.
In October 2014, armed criminals attempted to kidnap and rob two
expatriates traveling by road in Ogun state. During the course of the
robbery, the criminals opened fire on a vehicle and killed the occupant.
The other victim, traveling in a separate vehicle, was kidnapped and
later released.
Kidnappings have also occurred in the more affluent areas of Lagos. In
March 2013, a British expatriate was kidnapped at night while waiting
for security guards to open the gate to his residence on Victoria Island
after a U.S.-sponsored event. In September 2014, two American
expatriates were kidnapped in the Niger Delta. Law enforcement was able
to recover these individuals unharmed; however, the perpetrators remain
at large.
Targeting of average Nigerians for smaller monetary gains has increased
in recent years. Criminals know that police are rarely contacted during a
kidnapping and that families are quick to pay ransoms for the release
of relatives. Kidnappers can be particularly brutal and can be expected
to physically assault the victim and those delivering ransom money. The
methodology involves extensive planning by the kidnappers who often have
some connection to the victim and are aware of the victim’s movements
and habits.
Police Response
Despite a visible police presence in large cities, police assistance
does not have a wide reach. Police response to incidents involving the
diplomatic and consular community, although well-intentioned, often
relies upon transport provided by an embassy or consulate staff to crime
scenes. Law enforcement authorities usually respond slowly or not at
all and provide little/no investigative support to victims. A serious
lack of resources (communications equipment, vehicles, skilled
leadership, training) continues to undermine the effectiveness of the
NPF. Usually, victims must maintain close contact to move an
investigation forward. Crime laboratories and facilities to process
evidence do not exist. As such, most Nigerians do not perceive the NPF
as an effective law enforcement body and have little faith in the
criminal justice system. A call to police for assistance may result in
solicitation of bribes. As a result, criminal groups do not fear arrest
or prosecution for their crimes.
Local police or neighborhood associations generally do not deter or
disrupt burglaries and other crimes and seldom apprehend or detain
suspects after the fact. NPF personnel do not patrol residential
neighborhoods, and numerous NPF officers assigned to private security
details for either businesses or individuals routinely ignore any
requests for assistance not directly associated with their assignments.
For example, when an armored SUV belonging to an international
corporation was attacked by armed assailants on a major roadway very
close to the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos in March 2013, police Rapid
Response Squad (RRS) units less than 100 meters away did not intervene.
Vigilante justice is common in rural areas as well as cities.
Perpetrators of crime are often beaten or burned to death by mobs before
police arrive.
How to Handle Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment
U.S. citizens should immediately identify themselves to police and
security personnel as U.S. citizens. Under international conventions,
the government must notify the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the U.S.
Consulate General in Lagos of the detention of American citizens within
72 hours.
If arrested, detainees should cooperate respectfully and maintain their
composure when interacting with local officials. Normally, authorities
do not feed detainees; therefore, individuals in custody must make
arrangements for meals; if no one is available to assist, detainees
should contact the American Citizen Services Unit (ACS) at the U.S.
Embassy or U.S. Consulate General to facilitate a loan for meals.
Crime Victim Assistance
There is no reliable national emergency communication number. The
American Citizen Services unit (ACS) at the U.S. Embassy or U.S.
Consulate General should be the first point of contact for assistance.
While in Lagos state, travelers may attempt to obtain police assistance
by calling 767 or 112. Individuals should inquire at the nearest police
station about the contact telephone numbers for that particular station.
For additional information, please review the U.S. Department of State
Travel Information website, “Help for American Victims of Crime
Overseas”:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1212.html.)
Police/Security Agencies
Expatriates and affluent Nigerians employ their own security and utilize
armored vehicles for travel. Police officers and other law enforcement
agents are frequently hired by businesses and individuals to provide
security. Most businesses employ guard services, and many companies
offer varying quality of service. As Nigerian law prohibits the arming
of private security personnel, police often supplement guard forces.
These arrangements can be made by your local guard company or with the
local police station.
Medical Emergencies
The best health care is available in private and nonprofit medical
facilities. However, even these facilities typically fail to meet U.S.
standards. National disaster management is not effective or functional.
The civilian sector’s disaster management capabilities are poor to
nonexistent. The military provides crowd control during disasters but no
systemic medical response. The military has no resources available for
mass casualty response. For more information, please review the
Department of State Travel Information website, “Medical Information for
Americans Abroad” at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1215.html.
Contact Information for Recommended Hospitals/Clinics
International SOS Clinic
23 A Temple
Ikoyi Island – Lagos
Dr. Pierre Bentresque
08035352559
Pierre.bentesque@internationalsos.com
Tel: +234 1 4625 600, 01-4617710, 01-4613608/9, +234-1-775-6080
Allyn Rogers (Business and Administrative Manager), allyn.rogers@internationalsos.com
Lagoon Hospital
Modupe Dada, Clinical Manager, dupe.dada@lagoonhospitals.com
8 Marine Road, Apapa
Tel: 08023113522; 07029175512; 08087183137
Dr. Onakoya, Medical Director
Cell: 08034020277
Office: 01 870 7011, 01 628 3812-4
customerservices @lagoonhospitals.com
www.lagoonhospitals.com
Reddington Multi Specialist Hospital
Dr. Neil Davidson, Dr. Lawani, and Dr. Owabowale
12 Idowu Martins Street
Victoria Island, Lagos
Near Mega Plaza
Tel: 234 0 806 004 5651 or 271 5340-3
info@reddingtonhospital.com
www.reddingtonhospital.com
Atlantic Medical Centre
8A Maroko Close
Off Oyinkan Abayomi Drive
Ikoyi, Lagos.
Dr. El-Harake
Cell: 0803 400 2400
01 7753838
atlantic@nova.to
First Cardiology Consultants
20A Thompson Avenue
Next to the British Council
Off Glover Road
Off Old Kingsway Road
Ikoyi, Lagos
Dr. Adeyemi Johnson
Tel: +234 (0)803 5250205; (0)17406284; (0)17406285; (0)8082114266
frontdesk@firstcardiologyconsultantsonline.com
The Children’s Practice
25 Raymond Njoku Street,
Off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Dr. A.L. Anga
Tel: +234 (0)1-460-1941; (0)1-893-0723; (0)8022235834
info@childrenspractice.com
Recommended Air Ambulance Services
For the information pertaining to air ambulance services, please visit:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html#companies
CDC Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance
Malaria is widespread among the local population, and most visitors take some form of malaria prophylaxis.
For CDC country-specific vaccination and health guidance, please visit: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/nigeria.htm.
Tips on How to Avoid Becoming a Victim
Situational Awareness Best Practices
Due to the widespread poverty and perception of Western affluence, Americans should take extra precautions when traveling.
Avoid disputes with local citizens. Always be polite and respectful of
police officers and soldiers. Avoid large crowds. Be wary of business
offers promising large payoffs for little/no investment. Avoid guides
and other strangers who may approach you with offers of assistance.
Do not use personal checks, credit cards, or Automatic Teller Machines
(ATMs). Due to the proliferation of identity and financial fraud, do not
carry detailed information about yourself and your finances that you do
not need. Carry only the amount of cash that you need and distribute
funds among several pockets. Avoid displaying any items of value. If
approached by an armed robber/carjacker, cooperate.
All U.S. citizens should remain aware of current situations including
curfews, travel restrictions, and states of emergency in the areas they
are in or plan to visit. This information is commonly announced by the
news media but can change with very little notice.
U.S. Consulate Location and Contact Information
Consulate Address and Hours of Operation
U.S. Consulate General Lagos Contact Information
2 Walter Carrington Crescent
Victoria Island, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Consulate Contact Numbers
Regional Security Office: (234) 1-460-3514Consulate Operator: (234) 1-460-3400
Marine Security Guard at Post One: (234) 1-460-3410
Duty Officer: (234) 807-550-0167
Website: http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/general_consul.html
Nearby Posts
Embassy Abuja: http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/
Consulate Guidance
The Consular Information Sheet for Nigeria provides additional
information for any traveler to the country:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_987.html. It is also
recommended that any traveler register with the U.S. Department of
State: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.
OSAC Country Council Information
Nigeria’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Country Council is
located in Abuja and in Lagos. General membership meetings of the Lagos
Country Council occur every Tuesday at the Consulate General’s Guest
Quarters (GQ) facility (6 Queens Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos, Lagos State).
Abuja Country Council meetings occur the last Thursday of every month at
the Sheraton Hotel (Ladi Kwali Way, Abuja, FCT). Access is restricted
to active OSAC members only, so please contact the RSO at the Embassy in
Abuja or the Consulate General in Lagos before attending the meeting.
The RSO can be contacted at:
Lagos: 234-1-460-3514 or at RSOLagos@state.gov.
Abuja: 234-9-461-4175 or at RSOAbuja@state.gov
To reach OSAC’s African team, please email OSACAF@state.gov.
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