The United States Embassy Abuja has cancelled all visa appointments, asking applicants to check their emails for information on rescheduled dates.
In a notice shared via its official X handle, the embassy stated that visa services in Abuja have been suspended, while operations at the U.S. Consulate General Lagos continue as normal. It added that American citizen services in Abuja remain available only for emergencies and by appointment.
The decision follows a security advisory issued by the United States Department of State, which authorized non-emergency U.S. government staff and their families to leave Abuja due to worsening security conditions.
In its updated travel advisory, the department urged Americans to reconsider travel to Nigeria, citing concerns over crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest.
Nigeria was placed under a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” classification, with several states designated as “Level 4: Do Not Travel.”
States specifically highlighted for heightened risk include Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, and parts of Adamawa due to terrorism and kidnapping threats. Others such as Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara were flagged for unrest, crime, and security challenges.
Reacting to the development, the Nigerian government described the advisory as “unbalanced,” urging international partners to provide more accurate and current assessments of the country’s security situation.
