U.S. Embassy In Abuja Cancels Visa Appointments Amid Rising Security Concerns
The United States Embassy in Abuja has suspended all scheduled visa appointments, instructing affected applicants to monitor their emails for updates on new dates. Despite the disruption in the capital, visa services remain operational at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos.
In a notice issued on Thursday, the embassy also confirmed that services for American citizens are still available, though limited to appointments and emergency situations.
This development follows a recent decision by the U.S. Department of State to authorize the departure of non-essential government personnel and their families from Abuja, citing a worsening security environment in Nigeria.
An updated travel advisory now urges U.S. citizens to reconsider traveling to the country due to concerns over cr+me, terr+rism, kidn+pping, civil unrest, and inconsistent healthcare access. While Nigeria is broadly classified under “Level 3: Reconsider Travel,” several states have been placed under the more severe “Level 4: Do Not Travel” category due to heightened risks.
The advisory highlights northern states such as Borno, Yobe, and Taraba, along with others including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara, as particularly d@ngerous due to ongoing security challenges.
