By G. Watson Richards
The U.S. Embassy in Abuja has announced the cancellation of all visa appointments, urging applicants to check their emails for information on rescheduled dates.
In a notice issued on Thursday, the Embassy stated that visa services will continue at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos. It also noted that American citizen services remain available by appointment or in emergency situations.
The move follows a decision by the U.S. Department of State to authorize the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members from the Embassy in Abuja, citing a worsening security situation across Nigeria.
In an updated travel advisory, the Department urged Americans to reconsider travel to Nigeria due to concerns over crime, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest, and inconsistent access to healthcare services.
Nigeria is currently classified under a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” advisory, while certain states fall under “Level 4: Do Not Travel.”
According to the advisory, states in the North such as Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, and northern Adamawa face heightened risks from terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.
Other states, including Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara, were also flagged due to unrest, crime, and kidnapping.
The State Department emphasized that the security situation remains fluid and advised U.S. citizens to exercise increased caution.
