JUST-IN: US Embassy Suspends Visa Appointments In Abuja

The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced the suspension of visa appointments at its Embassy in Abuja, citing ongoing security concerns.

In a statement posted on its official X handle on Thursday evening, the Mission said, “U.S. Embassy Abuja is closed for visa appointments. Applicants should check their email for details on rescheduled appointments.”

Despite the development, the Mission clarified that visa services remained available at its Lagos office. “Visa operations at U.S. Consulate General Lagos continue,” it added.

The Mission also noted that American citizen services in Abuja awee still accessible under limited conditions. “American citizen services are available in emergencies and by appointment,” the statement read.

The suspension came on the heels of a broader security advisory issued by the United States Department of State, which recently authorised the departure of non-emergency staff from the US Embassy in Abuja.

Earlier in the week, the State Department updated its travel advisory for Nigeria, expanding its “Do Not Travel” list to 23 states. While Nigeria remains under a Level 3 advisory, “Reconsider Travel,” the department warned that certain regions face heightened risks, including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and limited access to healthcare.

According to the advisory, US citizens were frequently targeted for kidnapping and robbery, while terrorist groups continue to plan and execute attacks in public spaces such as markets, religious centres, hotels, and large gatherings.

The department also raised concerns about Nigeria’s healthcare system, noting that hospitals often demand immediate cash payments, ambulance services are unreliable, and blood supply systems remain inconsistent. It warned that in severe cases, medical evacuation may be necessary.

As part of its guidance, the US government urged its citizens in Nigeria to enroll in the Smart Traveller Enrollment Programme (STEP), avoid large gatherings, vary daily routines, and establish emergency communication plans, including “proof of life” protocols in the event of abduction.

The updated advisory categorised affected states into regional risk clusters. Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and northern Adamawa were flagged for terrorism and kidnapping threats, while states such as Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara were linked to banditry and communal violence.

In the South-East and parts of the Niger Delta—including Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers (excluding Port Harcourt)—the advisory highlighted risks related to crime, armed gangs, and civil unrest.

New additions to the highest-risk category include Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, and Taraba states, where the department cited worsening insecurity, particularly in the Middle Belt, driven by escalating farmer-herder conflicts.

The State Department described the situation in these areas as volatile and unpredictable, warning that security operations could occur without prior notice.