The Department of State issued an advisory directing those at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria to depart due to a “deteriorating security situation.”
“On April 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members from U.S. Embassy Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation,” the State Department shared. “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja will remain open but will have limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria. The Embassy, in consultation with the State Department, will reassess this status regularly. The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos will continue to provide routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria.”
“The Department of State Travel Advisory for Nigeria remains at Level 3, recommending travelers reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed gangs, and inconsistent availability of health care services.”
A separate statement explained that “violent crime is common throughout Nigeria” and the threat of “terrorist violence” persists in the area, as well as civil unrest and gang activity.
While some states in Nigeria are listed at Level 3, which instructs Americans to reconsider travel, other state are listed at Level 4 and carry a “do not travel” advisory.
The advisory comes as Nigeria has experienced another wave of attacks. The Department of State updated its designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” following President Trump’s threat to deploy troops to the country last fall.
President Trump previously declared that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”
