The U.S. Embassy in Abuja has cancelled all scheduled visa appointments, asking applicants to check their emails for new dates and further instructions.
In a notice issued on Thursday, the embassy explained that while visa services in Abuja have been suspended, operations will continue at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos. It also noted that services for American citizens remain available by appointment or in emergency situations.
The move comes shortly after the U.S. Department of State authorised the departure of non-essential government staff and their families from the Abuja embassy. The decision was based on what it described as a worsening security situation across Nigeria.
In its updated travel advisory, the department urged American citizens to reconsider travelling to Nigeria, citing concerns over crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest. The country remains under a Level 3 advisory, while several states have been placed under the stricter Level 4 category, meaning Americans are advised not to travel there.
States listed under the highest risk category include Borno, Yobe, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Jigawa, and parts of Adamawa, largely due to ongoing security threats such as insurgency and kidnapping. Other states, including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, and Gombe, were also flagged over similar concerns.
The embassy’s decision is likely to affect many Nigerians with pending visa applications, as uncertainty grows around when normal services will fully resume in Abuja.
