- The Australian government had earlier issue advisory to its citizens against travelling to Nigeria
- Urges Nigerian travellers and residents of Australia who experience or witness any form of racist attack or harassment to report to the High Commission of Nigeria
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has warned Nigerians planning to travel to Australia to be wary of the prevailing security situation in some cities of the country.
This was contained in a statement by the acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The statement said the warning became imperative due to reported cases of discrimination, harassment and verbal abuse targeted at foreigners.
According to the statement, while Australia is generally known for its multiculturalism and tolerance, incidents of Islamophobia and antisemitism have occurred recently in certain areas.
It said that in early December 2024, a disturbing incident occurred in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra, where a car was set ablaze and anti-Israel graffiti was sprayed on nearby buildings.
It added that the event was part of a broader increase in both antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents in Australia, coinciding with international conflicts and tensions.
The statement therefore advised Nigerians to be mindful of the prevailing cultural and social dynamics to ensure their safety and comfort, recommending extra vigilance and necessary precautions.
“Nigerian travellers and residents of Australia who experience or witness any form of racist attack or harassment should contact the High Commission of Nigeria at 26 Guilfoyle St, Yarralumla ACT 2600, Canberra, Australia,” the statement added.
The Australian government earlier on Tuesday called on its citizens to reconsider the need to take a trip to Nigeria.
A statement by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, DFAT, on Tuesday cited a volatile security environment marked by terrorism, kidnapping, and the potential outbreak of civil unrest as reasons for the advice.
“Reconsider your need to travel to Nigeria overall due to the volatile security situation and threat of terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime, and the risk of civil unrest.
“There’s a high risk of terrorist attacks across Nigeria by various militant groups. Attacks could be indiscriminate or may target foreign interests.
“Potential targets include places where crowds gather, such as hotels, bars, restaurants, political meetings, government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, sporting events, transport hubs and networks, law enforcement facilities, international organisations and camps for displaced people,” it said.
The warning from the Australian government comes amid recent data from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, which reported 2,235,954 abductions between May 2023 and April 2024.
Recall that ransom payments during this period, according to NBS, amounted to an estimated N2.2 trillion, with an average ransom of N2.7 million per incident.
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