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In response to Nigeria’s current security realities and the heightened movement that characterises the December travel season, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PVC-Naija, Citizen Bolaji O. Akinyemi, has announced a major change to the format of the forthcoming “A Nite 4 Naija” event, alongside a strong national travel and safety advisory to all Nigerians.

Speaking on behalf of PVC-Naija, Akinyemi said the organisation could not ignore the increasing dangers faced by citizens on Nigeria’s highways.

He noted that recent events have once again brought the risks of road travel to the fore, pointing specifically to the tragic abduction of six Directors of the Ministry of Defence during a journey that should never have required road travel.

According to him, the incident has become a painful reminder of the dangers that ordinary Nigerians are exposed to daily while using the country’s road networks.

While acknowledging and appreciating the Federal Government for ongoing reforms within the nation’s security architecture, including decisive actions taken in response to alleged lapses in national security oversight and the appointment of a new Minister of Defence, Akinyemi stressed that citizens must not rely solely on institutional measures. Instead, he urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and to make safer, more thoughtful travel choices as the festive season approaches.

Following a comprehensive security assessment and extensive consultations with stakeholders and partners, PVC-Naija has resolved that the 2025 edition of “A Nite 4 Naija” will hold strictly as a media-only event.

In practical terms, physical attendance will be limited to Awadees who reside within the Federal Capital Territory and accredited media practitioners based in the FCT. All other stakeholders, supporters, partners and members of the general public have been strongly encouraged to participate through the organisation’s official online channels.

Akinyemi was emphatic that while the celebration of Nigeria, the sharing of inspiration and the presentation of awards will go on as scheduled, no citizen should put their life at risk by embarking on dangerous highway journeys simply to attend a national event.

He noted that the decision, though difficult, was guided by a moral and patriotic duty to prioritise the safety and preservation of life above all else.

Beyond the event, PVC-Naija used the opportunity to issue a broader travel and safety advisory to the Nigerian public. With the NYSC Orientation Camps scheduled to close on the 9th of December, parents were advised to support their children to travel by air wherever possible, except in locations where no airport exists. Akinyemi warned that young travellers, including Corps Members and students, remain prime targets of kidnappers and criminal elements operating along major routes across the country.

He further called on organisations that are planning conferences, summits or similar gatherings in the month of December to consider holding them online or via broadcast media platforms.

In the same vein, churches, non-governmental organisations and professional bodies were advised to avoid encouraging unnecessary physical travel that could expose their members to risk. Government ministries, departments and agencies were also urged to suspend physical examinations, interviews and trainings that can be conducted through digital platforms, in order to minimise movement and reduce vulnerability.

For individual citizens, the advisory was clear and direct: avoid night journeys and restrict inter-state travel to only essential trips. According to Akinyemi, this is not a season for presumption, but one that demands caution, wisdom and a heightened sense of responsibility both to oneself and to loved ones.

Reaffirming PVC-Naija’s commitment to national development and civic responsibility, the Chairman stated that Nigeria remains a nation worthy of celebration and defence. He said the organisation would continue to inspire hope, honour patriotic contributions and strengthen the civic fabric of the country. However, he emphasised that true patriotism must be balanced with wisdom and a deep respect for the value of human life.

“A Nite 4 Naija will go on,” he declared, “but it will go on safely, creatively and responsibly.”

In closing, Akinyemi urged all Nigerians to remain alert, exercise wisdom in every decision they make during this period and take all necessary steps to stay alive and safe, stressing that no celebration, event or engagement is worth the price of a human life.

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