UK travel advisory: Nasarawa escapes North-Central restrictions

The Nasarawa State Government has welcomed the latest United Kingdom travel advisory, which excluded the state from restrictions placed on other states in the North-Central region of Nigeria.

The government said the development was an encouraging recognition of the relative peace and security being enjoyed in Nasarawa State.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdullahi Sule, Ibrahim Addra, the government noted that the UK advisory, which remained current as of August 21, advised against all but essential travel to other states in the North-Central region, while Nasarawa was excluded.

The government, however, said it desired a situation where such travel advisories would no longer be necessary anywhere in Nigeria.

“While we desire that such advisory in Nigeria becomes unnecessary sooner than later, the government receives this development with humility and gratitude to Almighty God,” the statement said.

It described the development as “an encouraging reflection of the collective efforts to promote peace and security in our state.”

The government commended the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the security agencies and other state governors for their efforts in tackling the country’s security challenges.

It also attributed the development to what it described as deliberate measures by the Sule administration to strengthen security and support security agencies.

“In Nasarawa, this positive outcome is also a reflection of the deliberate measures taken by the administration of Governor Abdullahi A. Sule to strengthen security, support security agencies and foster closer collaboration with communities and other stakeholders,” the statement said.

The government stressed that the development would not lead to complacency, assuring that more efforts would be made to sustain peace and security across the state. It also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and assist security agencies by providing timely and credible information.

Governor Sule added that the state would continue working with security agencies, communities and other stakeholders to consolidate the prevailing peace.