The United States Department of State has updated its global travel guidance, placing 23 countries under its highest travel warning, Level 4, advising American citizens not to visit the listed destinations under any circumstances.

In the revised advisory published on Thursday and seen on Saturday via the department’s TravelGov X account, the US government explained that a Level 4 designation applies to countries where security conditions pose serious risks or where its ability to provide assistance to American citizens is severely limited.

“We issue Travel Advisories with Levels 1–4. Level 4 means DO NOT TRAVEL. We assign Level 4 based on local conditions and/or our limited ability to help Americans there,” the department said.

It added, “These places are dangerous. Do not go for ANY reason.”

Among the countries placed under the highest advisory are 11 African nations: Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Mali, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

The complete list of countries designated as Level 4 includes Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, Ukraine and Yemen.

The latest update comes months after the State Department maintained Nigeria under Level 3, urging Americans to reconsider travel to the country, while classifying several Nigerian states under the more severe Level 4 advisory because of ongoing security concerns.

The states designated as Level 4 in northern Nigeria are Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and northern Adamawa.

In the South-South and South-East, the advisory applies to Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo and Rivers State, excluding Port Harcourt.

According to the State Department, Americans should reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest and inconsistent healthcare services, while travel to the listed Level 4 states is strongly discouraged.

The Nigerian government, however, dismissed the US assessment, describing it as a standard precaution based on Washington’s internal procedures rather than a reflection of the country’s overall security situation. (Saturday Vanguard, excluding healine)