The United States has suspended visa appointment services at its Abuja mission following the evacuation of non-emergency staff and family members over worsening security concerns in Nigeria, even as the Federal Government dismissed the security alert, insisting the country remains stable.
The development came barely 24 hours after Washington authorised the departure of non-essential personnel from the United States Embassy Abuja, citing a deteriorating security environment.
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.
“U.S. Embassy Abuja is closed for visa appointments. Applicants should check their email for details on rescheduled appointments,” the mission stated.
However, the embassy clarified that consular operations were still ongoing in other locations, noting that visa services at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos remain unaffected. Emergency services for American citizens, it added, would continue by appointment.
Although no official detailed explanation was given for the suspension of visa appointments, the decision follows a U.S. State Department advisory issued on Wednesday authorising non-emergency personnel and their families to leave Abuja.
According to the advisory, 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 warning—advising citizens to “reconsider travel.”
The evacuation and service suspension have stirred fresh concerns about Nigeria’s security outlook, especially as the country continues to battle insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across several regions.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has pushed back strongly against the U.S. position, describing it as a routine precaution that does not reflect the true state of security in the country.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement issued on Thursday, maintained that Nigeria remains largely stable despite isolated security challenges.
According to him, public institutions across the country are fully operational, with no disruption to governance, economic activity or daily life.
“While we acknowledge isolated security challenges in some areas, there is no general 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 recorded significant gains against criminal networks, improving safety in several communities.
“Our security agencies remain actively engaged in protecting lives and property, and the results of these efforts are increasingly evident,” he stated.
Idris further argued that Nigeria remains open to business, travel and investment, stressing that economic reforms were already improving investor confidence and strengthening the country’s global image.
The contrasting positions between Washington and Abuja come amid renewed international scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation, following recent global assessments ranking the country among those most affected by terrorism-related violence.
While diplomatic tensions remain muted, the latest U.S. action is expected to heighten public debate over the true state of security in Africa’s most populous nation.
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