US Embassy Suspends Visa Appointments in Abuja After Staff Evacuation Over Security Fears

The United States has suspended visa appointment services at its Abuja mission following the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family members amid worsening security concerns in Nigeria, although the federal government has dismissed the security alert, insisting the country remains stable.

The development came just 24 hours after Washington authorized the departure of non-essential personnel from the US embassy in Abuja, citing deteriorating security conditions.

In a notice posted on its official X handle on Thursday, the embassy announced the immediate closure of visa appointment services in Abuja, assuring applicants that affected bookings would be rescheduled.

“The US Embassy in Abuja is closed for visa appointments. Applicants should check their email for details on rescheduled appointments,” the mission said.

However, the embassy clarified that consular operations are still ongoing in other locations, stressing that visa services at the US Consulate General in Lagos remain unaffected. Emergency services for American citizens, he added, will continue by appointment.

While no detailed official explanation was given for the suspension of visa appointments, the decision follows a US State Department advisory issued on Wednesday allowing non-emergency personnel and their families to leave Abuja.

According to the notice, the measure was taken due to what it described as a “deteriorating security situation” in Nigeria, adding that the country remains at a Level 3 travel advisory level, advising citizens to “reconsider travel”.

The evacuation and suspension of service have raised new concerns about Nigeria’s security outlook, especially as the country continues to battle insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes in several regions.

Meanwhile, the federal government has strongly opposed the US position, describing it as a routine precaution that does not reflect the real state of security in the country.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement released on Thursday, maintained that Nigeria remains broadly stable despite isolated security challenges.

According to him, public institutions across the country are fully operational, without any disruption to governance, economic activity or daily life.
“While we recognize isolated security challenges in some areas, there is no overall breakdown of law and order, and the vast majority of the country remains stable,” Idris said.

He added that ongoing military operations and intelligence-led interventions have seen significant gains against criminal networks, improving security in several communities.

“Our security agencies remain actively engaged in protecting lives and property, and the results of these efforts are increasingly evident,” he said.

Idris also maintained that Nigeria remains open for business, travel and investment, stressing that economic reforms are already improving investor confidence and strengthening the country’s global image.

The contrasting positions between Washington and Abuja emerge amid renewed international scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation, following recent global assessments that rank the country among those most affected by terrorism-related violence.

While diplomatic tensions remain muted, the latest US action is expected to intensify public debate over the true state of security in Africa’s most populous nation.

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