US Embassy
United States Embassy (U.S.) Abuja has suspended all visa appointments, advising affected applicants to monitor their emails for information regarding rescheduled dates.
In a notice shared via the embassy X handle @USinNigeria on Thursday, the embassy stated that visa applicants should expect further communication directly through official channels.
The notice read:
“U.S. Embassy Abuja is closed for visa appointments. Applicants should check their email for details on rescheduled appointments. Visa operations at U.S. Consulate General Lagos continue. American citizen services are available in emergencies and by appointment.”
Despite the suspension in Abuja, visa processing remains ongoing at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos. This means applicants with appointments in Lagos are expected to proceed as scheduled unless otherwise notified.
The embassy also confirmed that American Citizen Services in Abuja will continue but will be limited to emergency cases and strictly by appointment.
The development comes shortly after the U.S. Department of State authorized the departure of non-essential government personnel and their families from Abuja, citing deteriorating security conditions.
The updated travel advisory warns U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to Nigeria due to concerns including crime, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest, and limited healthcare access in some areas.
Nigeria currently remains under Level 3: Reconsider Travel, while some states have been placed under Level 4: Do Not Travel due to heightened security risks.
States Listed as High-Risk
According to the advisory, northern states identified as particularly dangerous include: Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Zamfara.
These areas were flagged due to ongoing insurgency, banditry, and other security challenges.
What Applicants Should Do
Affected visa applicants are advised to:
Monitor their email for rescheduling updates
Follow official U.S. Embassy social media pages
Avoid traveling to Abuja for visa appointments until further notice
The embassy has not announced when normal visa operations in Abuja will resume.
