The U.S. Embassy in Abuja has cancelled all visa appointments scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, citing security concerns over possible protests in the city.
The announcement was made in a statement posted on the Embassy’s official X account on Wednesday.
Applicants affected by the cancellations are expected to receive instructions on how to reschedule, while the embassy urged the public to monitor its official channels for updates.
The embassy emphasized that the cancellation is temporary and applicants will be notified when services resume.
The U.S. Embassy highlighted that the decision was motivated by potential demonstrations and advised the public to stay informed through official sources.
The statement expressed gratitude to the public for understanding and cooperation during the temporary suspension.
The embassy stressed that the pause is intended to prevent disruption while maintaining security and that visa services will continue once the situation is deemed safe.
Recent protests have erupted in several Nigerian states following the escalation of the Middle East conflict. Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) staged demonstrations against the joint U.S.–Israeli military operation in Iran that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The situation has escalated, with both Iran and the U.S.–Israeli forces intensifying military actions, including missile and drone strikes in the Gulf region.
Beyond the temporary appointment cancellations, U.S. visa and immigration policies affecting Nigerian nationals have undergone several changes in recent months.
Digital screening measures now require applicants to disclose all social media usernames used in the past five years, and immigrant visa processing for Nigeria and 74 other countries was paused starting January 21, 2026.
The U.S. Mission has warned that overstaying a visa could affect future applications, highlighting the importance for Nigerians to comply with visa regulations and be aware of evolving immigration policies.