The United States has ordered non-emergency personnel and their families to depart its embassy in Abuja, citing a deteriorating security environment in Nigeria.
The directive was issued by the United States Department of State in a travel advisory published on Wednesday, following a comprehensive review of the countryโs security situation.
According to the advisory, the decisionโtaken on April 8, 2026โauthorises the departure of non-essential U.S. government employees and their family members from the U.S. Embassy in Abuja due to heightened risks associated with crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and limited access to healthcare services in parts of the country.
Despite maintaining Nigeria at a Level 3 travel advisoryโurging citizens to reconsider travelโthe Department of State also placed several regions under a stricter Level 4 classification, indicating areas Americans should avoid entirely.
โReconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, and inconsistent availability of health care services. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory,โ the statement said.
โOn April 8, 2026, the Department of State authorized non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave U.S. Embassy Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation.โ
The advisory identified multiple high-risk states across northern, central, and southern Nigeria, warning of threats including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and violent crime. It stressed that kidnapping for ransom remains widespread and often targets foreigners and dual nationals.
The Department further warned that violent crimes such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, and hostage-taking occur frequently across the country, posing serious risks to residents and visitors alike.
It also raised concerns about the activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram, noting that they continue to plan and execute attacks, sometimes in collaboration with criminal networks. Potential targets, according to the advisory, include public spaces such as markets, shopping centres, schools, places of worship, government facilities, and transportation hubs.
In addition to security threats, the advisory highlighted ongoing civil unrest in parts of southern Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta and the Southeast, where armed groups and protests have contributed to instability.
Healthcare challenges were also flagged, with the Department noting limited access to medicines, unreliable emergency response services, and the requirement for upfront payment before treatment in many facilities.
The U.S. government warned that its ability to provide assistance to citizens in certain high-risk areas may be limited, urging Americans to avoid such regions altogether.
The development follows a similar action taken in December 2025, when the U.S. government placed Nigeria on a list of countries facing partial travel restrictions under a presidential proclamation aimed at strengthening border control measures.
That decision was based on security assessments and immigration compliance data, which indicated concerns over the presence of extremist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State, as well as visa overstay rates among Nigerian nationals.
According to the U.S., Nigeria recorded a visa overstay rate of 5.56 percent for B-1/B-2 visas and 11.90 percent for student and exchange visas. The restrictions apply to several visa categories, including B-1, B-2, F, M, and J visas, although certain groups such as diplomats and existing visa holders remain exempt.
The latest advisory underscores growing international concern over Nigeriaโs security landscape and signals the need for sustained efforts by authorities to address the challenges of terrorism, crime, and civil unrest affecting various parts of the country.
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