There are hundreds of investment opportunities in Nigeria, but one of the challenges is insecurity, from the North to South, West to the East, even the Federal Capital Territory, the seat of power, the government can’t adequately assure maximum security.
As such, as a foreign investor or a potential investor, you should “shine your eyes” as a typical Nigerian would say when warning a colleague to be vigilant.
Thankfully, the United Kingdom government in its latest travel advice warned its citizens in Nigeria against visiting some states in the country over high levels of insecurity.
While the UK advisory based its guide on the plan by the youth to celebrate the one year anniversary of the #EndSars protest, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) is right on this, but to be specific, below is the list of highways foreign investors need to be vigilant and states they can be found.
Borno Highways:
All major highways in Borno state are dangerous because of the activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP. Although Nigeria’s military claimed that leaders of the major terrorist groups have been killed, the information isn’t a guaranty that Borno is safe for business
The only safe place for business in that part is Borno town, within the city, anything outside the state capital carries a higher risk. Several times, farmers were either attacked or kidnapped at their farmlands.
Kaduna Highways
Within Kaduna, particularly, Southern Kaduna, communal clashes, killings, raping, and abduction by the farmers have turned Kaduna into an unsafe state for Nigerians, foreign investors need to be careful in that part of the country.
Abuja-Kaduna highway is is another deadly place you need to avoid, if possible.
Akure-Ilesa Highway
Osun is a peaceful state, but the Akure-Ilesa highway is dangerous at night, most especially, a junction called Pero, a few minutes from Erin-Ijesa junction, major robbery cases have taken place at that location several times.
InfomediaNG Business Solutions advises foreign investors need to be careful on that highway.
Highways in Yobe State
Yobe is one of the Northern states where terrorists have caused havoc. Travellers, not just foreign investors, need to be extra vigilant when on any highway in Yobe.
Sadly, not all terrorist attacks are reported in that of the country.
Highways in Adamawa
Adamawa is one of the states that made up the North East region. Apart from Yola which is relatively safe, other parts of the state are unpredictable due to the activities of Boko Haram members who pose as bandits and kidnap members of the public for ransome, foreign investors, shine your eyes when travelling on any highway in Adamawa state.
Gombe
Due to how Boko haram in the Northeast spread its tentacles, Gombe is another location that investors need to carry out their risk evaluation before thinking about investment. If you must, avoid night travel.
Katsina
If you think Katsina is safe because it’s the home state of the President, it means you’ve not been following happenings in Nigeria.
Boko Haram elements who state government called bandits have almost made the state ungovernable for Bello Masari, the state governor, who lamented severally that insecurity makes is a huge challenge for him to deliver the dividend of democracy.
Zamfara Highways
In part of Zamfara, Northwest geopolitical zones in Nigeria is a hub centre of terrorists mildly called bandits. Foreign investors who can’t take the risk of paying kidnappers for ransom should avoid that state.
Zamfara is home to most of the dangerous roads in Nigeria. It is one of the most dangerous states in that region to do business in Nigeria, it’s one of the states in the North where state government pampers criminals, gives them money in exchange for guns. Sadly, they go back to their crimes when collecting monies, cars from state governors.
To make things worst, state government shut down networks in some parts of the state aimed at cutting communications among criminal gangs, but this is also going to pose a challenge for someone who needs help.
Another thing that makes Zamfara dangerous for investment is the illegal mining of gold despite several orders from the federal government.
Highways on the southeast geopolitical Zone
Since the arrest and detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, attacks on security operatives in Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra, Enugu, and Imo have heightened.
To press home their demand for the release of the leader, they called for sit-home which has grounded economic activities in the region despite threats by the state governors.
If you must do business in any part of the region at this time, wait till October 21, the trial date of the separatist leader.
Other states
Other states that are relatively peaceful but there could be some insecurity challenges in some parts include:
- Delta (riverine areas)
- Riverine areas of Bayelsa state
- Riverine areas of Rivers state
- Despite the fact that there are several business opportunities in Akwa Ibom, investors should be vigilant in riverine areas
Niger state villages
The farming potential is mostly in the villages and such villages are not safe for investment. With its large landmass, criminal elements have a lot of hiding places in the North Central geopolitical zone.
Generally, investors should avoid night travel on Nigeria’s highways. There are reports that more unemployed youths most especially in the Northern part go into the kidnapping of school children in exchange for ransome from parents and the state government.