US Cancels Visa Appointments in Abuja, Authorises Staff Departure Over Security Concerns

By Uzair Adam

The United States Embassy in Abuja has cancelled all visa appointments in the Nigerian capital, asking applicants to check their emails for information about rescheduled dates.

In a notice issued on Thursday, the embassy said visa services would continue at the United States Consulate General Lagos.

The embassy also stated that services for American citizens would remain available through scheduled appointments or emergency requests.

The development followed a decision by the United States Department of State to authorise non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members to depart from Abuja due to what it described as a worsening security situation across Nigeria.

In an updated travel advisory, the department urged American citizens to reconsider travelling to Nigeria, citing concerns including crime, terrorism, kidnapping and civil unrest.

The advisory placed Nigeria under “Level 3: Reconsider Travel,” while some parts of the country were categorised under “Level 4: Do Not Travel.”

According to the notice, the decision followed a security assessment conducted on April 8.

“On April 8, 2026, the Department of State authorised non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave U.S. Embassy Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation,” the advisory stated.

The department also warned that travellers should reconsider visits to Nigeria because of crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping and inconsistent access to healthcare services.

Several states were listed under the highest risk category, including Borno State, Yobe State, Jigawa State, Niger State, Plateau State, Taraba State and parts of Adamawa State.

Other states mentioned in the advisory included Kaduna State, Kano State, Katsina State, Sokoto State, Zamfara State, Bauchi State and Gombe State, where the department cited risks related to unrest, crime and kidnapping.

The advisory noted that some areas in the country face higher security threats, urging U.S. citizens to remain cautious and monitor official updates before planning travel.