The United States Embassy in Abuja has cancelled all visa appointments, asking applicants to check their emails for updates on new dates.
In a notice released on Thursday, the embassy said visa services would continue at its consulate in Lagos, while American citizen services remain available by appointment or in emergencies.
Staff withdrawal triggers disruption
The move comes shortly after the U.S. Department of State authorised non-emergency staff and their families to leave the embassy in Abuja, citing worsening security conditions across Nigeria.
Travel advisory tightened
In its updated advisory, the U.S. government urged its citizens to reconsider travelling to Nigeria due to risks including crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest.
Nigeria remains under a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory, while some states have been placed under Level 4: Do Not Travel, the highest warning level.
States listed under severe risk include parts of the North such as Borno, Yobe, and Plateau, as well as others affected by insecurity and unrest.
What this means
The suspension of visa appointments in Abuja is expected to affect many applicants, especially those who had scheduled interviews at the embassy.
For now, processing will be handled through Lagos, as U.S. authorities continue to monitor the security situation nationwide.
