The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced the suspension of visa appointments at its Embassy in Abuja.
The development comes hours after the US ordered the evacuation of non-emergency staff from its Abuja embassy and expanded its Nigeria travel blacklist to 23 states.
Citing rising security concerns in Nigeria as reason for the evacuation, the US State department in a statement the department warned that some areas face increased risks due to crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping and limited healthcare availability.
Announcing the suspension of visa appointment in a post shared on its official X handle on Thursday, the mission said “U.S. Embassy Abuja is closed for visa appointments. Applicants should check their email for details on rescheduled appointments.”
The mission, however, clarified that visa operations at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos remain ongoing.
“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.
