U.S. Embassy in Abuja suspends visa appointments amid security concerns

The United States Embassy in Abuja has suspended all visa appointments, instructing affected applicants to monitor their emails for information on rescheduled dates.

The announcement, made on Thursday via the embassy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, stated that the Abuja mission would no longer process visa applications until further notice.

Applicants were advised to await direct communication regarding new appointment schedules.

“U.S. Embassy Abuja is closed for visa appointments. Applicants should check their email for details on rescheduled appointments,” the statement read.

Despite the disruption in the Federal Capital Territory, the embassy clarified that visa services remain operational at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.

It also noted that emergency American citizen services in Abuja would continue, albeit strictly by appointment.

The suspension follows closely on the heels of a security advisory issued by the U.S. Department of State, which authorised the departure of non-essential U.S. government personnel and their families from the embassy in Abuja.

In the updated travel advisory released earlier on Wednesday, the department urged American citizens to reconsider travel to Nigeria, citing concerns over crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest.

Nigeria was placed under a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” classification, while several states were designated “Level 4: Do Not Travel,” the highest risk category.

States in the North-East and parts of the North-Central region, including Borno, Yobe, Adamawa (northern areas), Plateau, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Jigawa, and Taraba, were flagged due to persistent threats of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.

Other states such as Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, and Gombe were also listed over concerns relating to unrest and criminal activity.

The advisory has triggered reactions within Nigeria, with the federal government of Nigeria pushing back against the characterisation of the country’s security situation.

Authorities described the U.S. notice as “unbalanced”, urging international partners to provide more nuanced and up-to-date assessments.

FG maintained that while security challenges exist, ongoing efforts by Nigerian security agencies have continued to address threats across affected regions.