The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced the temporary suspension of routine operations at its embassy in Abuja due to concerns over possible protests in the Federal Capital Territory.
In a notice shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, the Mission stated that the embassy would remain closed for routine business until Monday, March 9, 2026.
“Due to the potential for protests in Abuja, the U.S. Embassy will be closed for routine business until Monday, March 9, 2026.
“Visa appointments originally scheduled for March 4 and 5, as well as American Citizen Services (ACS) appointments scheduled for March 5, have been rescheduled to next week.”
The Mission advised affected applicants to monitor their communication channels for updates.
“Visa applicants: Please check your email or AVITs account for your new appointment date. ACS applicants: Please check your email for your new appointment date,” the Mission advised.
It also directed visa applicants who do not receive a new appointment date to seek assistance through the Visa Navigator platform, while urging the public to follow its official website and social media pages for additional information.
The announcement follows an earlier report that the embassy had cancelled visa appointments scheduled for March 4 over security concerns linked to possible demonstrations in Abuja amid tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Security presence was heightened across parts of the capital on Wednesday following reports of a potential protest by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. Similar demonstrations had earlier been recorded in Niger, Sokoto, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, and Lagos states.
The IMN reportedly described the protests as a peaceful show of solidarity with Iran following the reported death of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in airstrikes allegedly carried out by the United States and Israel.
Advertisement
