ABUJA, Nigeria – The United States has suspended visa appointments at its Embassy in Abuja, with the development affecting Nigerians and other applicants seeking to process U.S. visas through the Federal Capital Territory.
The suspension comes amid heightened security concerns in Nigeria and follows a decision by the U.S. government to authorise the departure of non-emergency government employees and their families from the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.
According to Reuters, the embassy confirmed that it had closed for visa appointments, while emergency services for American citizens remained available by appointment. The embassy did not immediately state how long the visa appointment suspension would last.
The move followed an updated U.S. travel advisory in which Washington urged American citizens to reconsider travel to Nigeria. Several additional Nigerian states were also placed under heightened travel warnings because of security threats, including terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other forms of violent crime.
The development could affect applicants who had planned to attend visa interviews in Abuja, particularly those with scheduled appointments. Applicants are advised to monitor official communications from the U.S. Embassy for information about rescheduled appointments and the resumption of normal visa services.
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has previously announced changes affecting visa services, including the use of new service providers for visa processing and appointment management.
It is important to note that the suspension of visa appointments in Abuja does not mean that all U.S. consular services in Nigeria have been permanently discontinued. Immigrant visa interviews, for example, are handled at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.
The latest development comes at a time of increased scrutiny of security conditions in Nigeria and could create further uncertainty for Nigerians planning travel to the United States.
