UK Foreign Office Updates Nigeria Travel Advice for Ebola Screening and Healthcare
On 28 October 2026, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice for British citizens travelling to Nigeria. The revision adds updated details concerning Ebola screening procedures at entry points and available healthcare services within the country. Alongside these changes, the government department maintained extensive safety warnings across multiple regions. The FCDO advises against all travel to seven full states including Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto, along with riverine areas across five southern states. It also warns against all but essential travel to sixteen additional states. Travellers should review their itineraries carefully because travelling to regions against FCDO advice can invalidate standard travel insurance policies. This leaves policyholders unprotected against high medical expenses or emergency travel costs. The guidance remains current as of 29 October 2026.
What was announced
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) released revised travel guidance for Nigeria on 28 October 2026. The main updates appear on the 'Entry requirements' and 'Health' pages of the official advice, specifically addressing Ebola screening measures and local healthcare information.
The update reiterates serious safety classifications across Nigeria's regions:
- All travel advised against: Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Gombe states in the North East; Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto states in the North West; and riverine locations accessible only by boat in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states.
- All but essential travel advised against: Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Kwara, Benue, Abia, Anambra, Imo, and non-riverine parts of Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states.
The document also offers links to specialized travel guides for women, disabled travellers, LGBT+ individuals, solo travellers, and volunteers. A printable PDF map measuring 558 KB is available for download.
What it means
UK citizens planning to travel to Nigeria must check where their destinations fall on the government map. Travel advice classifications directly affect commercial insurance coverage. If a person travels to a state or riverine area where the FCDO warns against all travel or all but essential travel, their insurance policy may become completely invalid.
Should an emergency occur in an advised-against zone, insurers can refuse payouts for medical care or evacuation costs. Travellers would have to cover all expenses themselves.
What the announcement does not tell us
The update states that information about Ebola screening and healthcare changed, but it does not detail what specific screening checks travellers will face at borders or airports. It also does not list which medical facilities meet basic care standards or what local healthcare resources are operational.
Furthermore, the document does not explain the specific security incidents, threat levels, or intelligence assessments that prompted the current boundaries for high-risk zones. It does not state how long these travel warnings will stay in place.
How this was written
This analysis was written with AI from the official announcement below, using only facts that announcement states. The quoted wording is UK FCDO Foreign Travel Advice’s own. Always check the original before acting on anything here.
Updated information about Ebola screening and Healthcare in Nigeria (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Health’ pages).
Opens www.gov.uk
More from UK FCDO Foreign Travel Advice
This content is for informational purposes only and is not travel, insurance, financial, or legal advice, and Firsthand is not an insurance agency or broker. Plan terms, coverage, pricing, and availability change frequently and vary by state and by traveler; verify current details in the provider's official policy documents and with official sources (such as the U.S. Department of Transportation) before buying or booking.