Coalition for Truth and Justice asks Britain to withdraw travel advice saying 21 states are unsafe

CIVIL society group the Coalition for Truth and Justice (CTJ) has asked Britain to apologise for the recent travel warning issued by its Foreign and Commonwealth Office asking Britons to avoid going to 21 states across Nigeria.

Earlier this week, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office asked Britons to avoid travelling to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River States and within 20km of the border with Niger Republic in Zamfara State. In addition they were warned against all but essential travel to Bauchi, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina and Kogi states and within 20km of the border with Niger Republic in Sokoto and Kebbi States and the non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Abia states.

Reacting to the warning, CTJ said the advice was misguided and an attempt to cause unnecessary apprehension among Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country. Charles Timothy, the CTJ national coordinator, described the advice as misguided and a deliberate plot targeted at blackmailing the country

He added that this is worrisome in the face of the fact that the UK has not shown any commitment towards Nigeria in the fight against terrorism over the years. Mr Timothy added that he  believes that the travel advisory is capable of scaring away investors from Nigeria, thereby causing a strain on socio-economic activities in the country.

Mr Timothy said: "It is therefore consequent that the travel advisory is withdrawn and an unreserved apology is issued to the Nigerian authorities by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)  of the United Kingdom. The Coalition for Truth and Justice also wishes to state in unequivocal terms that the advisory by the FCO is an expression of a larger agenda to destabilise Nigeria by some interest groups that are not happy with the substantial gains made in Nigeria since 2015 under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

"The Coalition for Truth and Justice also challenges the United Kingdom to expressly state how it has assisted Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and other militant groups that threatened the sovereignty of the country. The United Kingdom has refused to assist Nigeria in keeping at bay the threat posed by the Islamic State of West African Province around the Lake Chad basin region that has seen innocent women and children suffer untold hardship.

"The United Kingdom also as an ally of Nigeria has not made any concrete effort towards assisting Nigeria in our quest to acquire arms and ammunition in the fight against terrorism over the years. The Coalition for Truth and Justice believes that the United Kingdom as an ally of Nigeria owes Nigeria a high debt of apology given the fact that the UK has not in times past demonstrated a commitment to assist the Nigerian troops fighting terrorism in northeast Nigeria and other parts of the country."

He added that countries such as the United Kingdom should be at the vanguard of extending a helping hand to Nigeria in the fight against terrorism by availing the Nigerian troops with advanced technological skills and equipment. Mr Timothy added that it is also expected that the United Kingdom should rally support for Nigeria from the international community in the fight against terrorism.