The United States has authorised the departure of non-essential embassy personnel and their families from its mission in Abuja, citing a worsening security environment in Nigeria.
The directive was announced by the U.S. Department of State in a travel advisory published on its official website on Wednesday.
According to the Department, the decision taken on April 8, 2026, followed a fresh assessment of the security situation across the country. It highlighted persistent risks linked to crime, terrorism, and civil unrest in multiple regions.
While maintaining Nigeria’s Level 3 travel advisory status, the Department also designated several states under the more severe Level 4 category, advising against all travel to those areas.
“Reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, and inconsistent availability of health care services. Some areas have an increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory,” the statement read.
“On April 8, 2026, the Department of State authorised non-emergency U.S. government employees and eligible family members to depart Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation.”
The advisory identified high-risk areas across northern, central, and southern Nigeria, citing threats such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and violent crime.
It noted that violent crimes—including armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, and hostage-taking—remain widespread. Kidnapping for ransom, it added, is frequent and often targets foreigners and dual nationals.
“Terrorist groups such as Boko Haram continue to plan and carry out attacks, sometimes in coordination with criminal gangs,” the Department stated.
Potential targets, it warned, include public spaces such as markets, shopping centres, schools, places of worship, government buildings, and transportation hubs.
The advisory also pointed to ongoing civil unrest in parts of southern Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta and the Southeast, driven by armed groups and protest activities.
In addition, it flagged challenges within the healthcare system, including limited access to medicines, unreliable emergency services, and requirements for upfront payment before treatment.
The Department cautioned that the U.S. government may have limited capacity to assist its citizens in high-risk areas and urged Americans to avoid such locations.
The latest move follows a similar action in December 2025, when the U.S. placed Nigeria on a list of countries facing partial travel restrictions under a presidential proclamation aimed at tightening border controls.
That decision was based on security assessments and immigration compliance data. Nigeria was included among countries subject to partial suspension affecting certain immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories.
The U.S. cited the presence of extremist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State, as a major concern. It also noted visa overstay rates of 5.56 per cent for B-1/B-2 visas and 11.90 per cent for student and exchange visas among Nigerian nationals.
The restrictions affect categories such as B-1, B-2, F, M, and J visas, although certain groups—including diplomats and existing visa holders—remain exempt.
