The United States government has begun evacuating its staff and their families from Nigeria, citing a worsening security situation across the country.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State said it had authorised the departure of non-emergency personnel and their dependents from its embassy in Abuja.
“Nigeria: On April 8, 2026, the Department of State authorised non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave U.S. Embassy Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation,” the statement said.
The U.S. also maintained its travel advisory for Nigeria at Level 3, urging its citizens to reconsider travelling to the country.
According to the advisory, concerns include crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and inconsistent access to healthcare services.
While Americans are not outright banned from travelling to Nigeria, the advisory strongly discourages visits to several high-risk areas. These include most northern states, as well as Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and parts of Rivers State, where the risks of terrorism and kidnapping are considered elevated.
The development comes amid growing international concern over Nigeria’s security challenges.
Data from the latest Global Terrorism Index, released on March 19, 2026 by the Institute for Economics & Peace, ranked Nigeria fourth globally, with a reported 46 per cent increase in terrorism-related deaths in 2025.
