The United States mission in Nigeria has announced the closure of visa appointment services at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.
The development was disclosed on April 9, 2026, via the mission’s official handle on X.
The closure comes hours after the United States Department of State ordered non-emergency embassy personnel and their families to leave its Abuja mission over rising security concerns.
What they are saying
The U.S. Mission stated that visa services in Abuja have been temporarily halted, advising applicants to await further communication regarding their appointments.
- “U.S. Embassy Abuja is closed for visa appointments. Applicants should check their email for details on rescheduled appointments.”
It, however, clarified that visa processing activities remain ongoing in Lagos, while emergency services for American citizens are still accessible under specific conditions.
- “Visa operations at U.S. Consulate General Lagos continue. American citizen services are available in emergencies and by appointment.”
Get up to speed
The suspension of visa appointments in Nigeria’s capital comes shortly after the U.S. government directed its citizens and non-essential staff to depart Abuja due to worsening security conditions.
In an earlier advisory, the embassy urged Americans to reconsider travel to Nigeria, citing risks including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping, as well as inconsistent healthcare access.
- “On April 8, 2026, the Department of State authorized 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.”
What you should know
The latest move follows a string of recent security alerts issued by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria.
- In previous advisories, the mission warned of potential protests and terrorist threats targeting U.S.-linked locations. On March 4, American citizens in Abuja were advised to remain indoors amid fears that demonstrations could escalate into clashes with security forces.
- Visa appointments were also temporarily suspended on that day before later resuming.
Subsequently, on March 10, the embassy issued another alert warning of a possible terrorist threat targeting diplomatic facilities and U.S.-affiliated schools, underscoring ongoing concerns about the security environment in the country.
