US Embassy in Abuja Suspends Visa Appointments, Here’s Why

The United States Embassy in Abuja has cancelled all visa appointments, asking applicants to monitor their emails for updates on new schedules.

The announcement was made on Thursday via the official X handle of the U.S. mission in Nigeria, stating that visa services in Abuja have been temporarily halted. However, operations at the U.S. Consulate General Lagos remain active, while emergency services for American citizens are still available in Abuja by appointment.

The decision follows a recent directive by the United States Department of State authorising non-essential government staff and their families to leave the Abuja embassy due to worsening security conditions in the country.

In an updated travel advisory, the U.S. government urged its citizens to reconsider travelling to Nigeria, citing concerns over crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest.

Nigeria was placed under a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” advisory, while several states were classified under the more severe “Level 4: Do Not Travel” category. States such as Borno State, Yobe State, and parts of Adamawa State were specifically highlighted over terrorism risks, alongside others facing
threats of kidnapping and violent crime.

The advisory also flagged states including Kaduna State, Kano State, and Zamfara State for heightened insecurity.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Government of Nigeria criticised the U.S. travel warning, describing it as “unbalanced” and urging foreign partners to provide more accurate and current assessments of the country’s security situation.