U.S. EMBASSY SUSPENDS VISA APPOINTMENTS IN ABUJA
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By: Muftau Fatimo
The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced that visa appointments at its Embassy in Abuja have been suspended.
This was made known in a post shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday.
According to the statement, “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja is currently not conducting visa appointments. Applicants are advised to check their email for information regarding rescheduled dates.”
However, the mission noted that visa services at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos are still continuing as usual.
“Visa operations at U.S. Consulate General Lagos continue,” it added.
It also noted that American citizen services are still available in cases of emergency and by appointment.
“American citizen services are available in emergencies and by appointment,” the statement read.
The development comes amid a broader security advisory issued by the United States, which authorised the departure of non-emergency staff from its Abuja embassy and expanded its Nigeria travel blacklist to 23 states.
The State Department issued the authorised departure order on Tuesday, alongside an updated travel advisory that added Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger and Taraba to its highest warning category, “Do Not Travel.”
While the overall advisory rating for Nigeria remains at Level 3, “Reconsider Travel,” the department warned that some areas face increased risks due to crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping and limited healthcare availability.
According to the advisory, Americans are frequently targeted for kidnapping and robbery, while terrorist attacks remain a risk in various locations such as markets, places of worship, hotels, and public events.
It also highlighted concerns about emergency healthcare, noting that hospitals often demand upfront cash payments, ambulance services are unreliable and poorly equipped, and blood supply systems can be inconsistent.
The advisory added that medical facilities in Nigeria generally fall short of U.S. or European standards, and in serious cases, medical evacuation may be required.
It further advised U.S. citizens in Nigeria to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, steer clear of large gatherings, vary their daily routines, and have evacuation plans that do not rely on assistance from the U.S. government.
It also advised individuals to establish “proof of life” arrangements with family members in case of a kidnapping.
The blacklist is organised into regional groupings. Borno, Kogi, Yobe, and northern Adamawa fall under the terrorism, crime, and kidnapping category, with the State Department warning that terrorist groups continue to plan and carry out attacks, sometimes working alongside local gangs.
For Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara, the advisory highlights widespread banditry, communal violence, and kidnapping, adding that security operations may take place without prior notice.
In the South-East and Niger Delta, states such as Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers (excluding Port Harcourt) are flagged for crime, kidnapping, and civil unrest, with armed groups and violent protests posing major risks.
The latest update also added Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, and Taraba to the “Do Not Travel” list, citing the spread of insecurity into new areas, particularly in the Middle Belt where clashes between farmers and herders have escalated.
It further described the situation in these newly listed states as volatile and unpredictable, warning that security force operations could occur at any time without advance notice.
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