The Minister for Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, has urged Nigerians travelling abroad to take extra precautions.
This, he said, had become imperative following recent reports bordering on the alleged theft of Nigerian travelers’ and shoppers’ passports and other valuables abroad.
He listed countries where the alleged theft happened to include the United States of America and some parts of Europe, especially the United Kingdom.
He stated this on Monday during his presentation at the fifth edition of the “PMB Administration Scorecard 2015-2023 Series,” in Abuja.
“It has come to the attention of the government that Nigerian travellers to the United States and some countries in Europe are having their belongings, especially money and international passports, stolen at an increasingly high rate.
“The most recent victims of this are travelers to the UK, most of whom were dispossessed of their belongings at high-brow shops, particularly in the high street of Oxford.
“We have therefore decided to advise Nigerians traveling to Europe and the United States to take extra precautions to avoid being dispossessed of their belongings.”
He added, “This is not your typical travel advisory. Issuing such is the prerogative of our embassies, High Commissions, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“It is merely a piece of advice to Nigerians who may be visiting the affected parts of the world.”