US Embassy in Abuja suspends visa appointments following fresh security advisory

THE United States Embassy in Abuja has cancelled all scheduled visa appointments, asking affected applicants to monitor their emails for new appointment dates.

The update was posted on the official X account of the U.S. mission in Nigeria on Thursday, confirming a temporary halt to visa services in the capital.

According to the notice, visa processing at the Abuja embassy has been paused, while applicants will receive further guidance on rescheduling via email. It added that operations at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos remain ongoing, with emergency and appointment-based services still available for American citizens.

The development follows a directive from the U.S. Department of State permitting non-essential government personnel and their families to depart the Abuja embassy, citing worsening security conditions across parts of Nigeria.

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In a revised travel advisory that sparked widespread reactions, the department warned U.S. citizens to reconsider travelling to Nigeria due to risks linked to crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest.

Nigeria’s overall advisory status was placed at ‘Level 3: Reconsider Travel,’ with some states designated ‘Level 4: Do Not Travel.’

The advisory identified Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, and northern Adamawa as high-risk areas due to terrorism and kidnapping concerns.

It also flagged Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara over threats related to insecurity, including crime and civil unrest.

Reacting to the development, the Nigerian government described the U.S. advisory as ‘unbalanced,’ urging foreign partners to ensure their security assessments reflect current realities more accurately.