US Embassy Abuja cancels all visa appointment

The U.S. Embassy in Abuja has announced the cancellation of all visa appointments, directing applicants to check their emails for details on rescheduled dates.

The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos will continue visa operations, while American citizen services are available by appointment or in emergencies, the Embassy said in a statement on Thursady.

The announcement comes as part of broader security measures following the United States Department of State’s updated travel advisory for Nigeria, released on April 8, 2026. The advisory urged Americans to reconsider travel to Nigeria due to rising crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and limited healthcare access.

The Department highlighted violent crimes including armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage-taking, and rape, noting that foreigners and dual nationals are often targeted for ransom. Terrorist groups continue to plot attacks, sometimes in collaboration with local criminal gangs, with incidents occurring in markets, shopping centres, schools, places of worship, hotels, and transport hubs.

Large parts of the country, including Borno, Yobe, Kogi, Adamawa, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, and Taraba, were placed under the strictest Level 4: Do Not Travel warning due to terrorism, communal violence, and kidnapping risks. Other states, including Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara, were flagged for high risks of unrest and violent crime, while southern states such as Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers (excluding Port Harcourt) were marked for threats from armed gangs and civil disturbances.