The Federal Government has pushed back against a fresh travel advisory from the United States warning its citizens to avoid Nigeria. Officials say the advisory is unfair, one-sided, and ignores the deep security problems within the US itself.
Speaking in Abuja at a retreat organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said the US should look inward before lecturing others. His comments were delivered by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication Strategy, Alkazeem Abdulkadir.
“There is a saying that if the lion does not learn how to write stories, the game will always glorify the hunter,” he said.
“America recorded over 47,000 deaths from gun violence in 2024. This year, the figure is expected to hit 45,000. So, who really has the security crisis?”
The US advisory had warned its nationals to avoid 20 states across Nigeria due to risks of crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and weak healthcare. It claimed that “all locations carry significant security risks” and specifically warned against travel to states like Borno, Kogi, Kaduna, and even parts of the South-East and South-South.
But the Nigerian government says this pattern of warnings distorts facts and undermines the country’s image. Tuggar noted that Nigeria has previously responded with its own advisories against countries like Australia and the UK.
“We call it self-flagellation when we let outsiders define us, and we join them in laughing at ourselves,” Abdulkadir said.
He called on Nigerians, especially communication professionals, to take control of the country’s global narrative.
“This is not just about image. It’s about strategy, clarity, and patriotism. Nigeria needs to project its identity with confidence. President Tinubu’s administration is committed to repositioning Nigeria globally, and media diplomacy is central to that goal.”
The message struck a chord with other participants. Public relations expert Modupe Adetokunbo said Nigerians have normalised suffering and allowed despair to shape the country’s global perception.
“Ask a Nigerian how they’re doing. The answer used to be ‘we thank God’. Now, it’s ‘it is well’. We are masking frustration with silence,” he said.
Adetokunbo highlighted the viral video where foreign visitors handed cash to police officers in Nigeria.
“That clip was embarrassing, but it was also a mirror. It’s not just about the police. It’s about how poverty, desperation, and perception shape daily life in this country,” he said.
President of the NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, urged Nigerians to stop outsourcing their stories to outsiders.
“The issue is not that we lack good stories. We just don’t tell them enough. Look at our Super Falcons. Look at our brilliant young minds winning global prizes. These are stories we must own,” he said.
Neliaku warned that allowing foreign media to dominate Nigeria’s narrative creates long-term damage.
“People can be programmed to believe they are inferior. And once that seed is planted, it grows. It’s time to wake up. Nigeria is one of the greatest nations on earth, by any metric. But we must believe it and say it ourselves.”
