President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has suggested that the recent decision by the United States to reduce staff at its embassy in Nigeria was not born of local politics, attributing the move instead to America’s current hostility with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
He made the claim on Tuesday in Abuja during the commissioning of the new Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) headquarters.
Earlier, the United States Department of State authorised the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their families from its embassy in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In an updated travel advisory, the department stated the directive took effect on 8 April 2026, warning American citizens to reconsider travel to the country due to rising concerns including crime, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest, and inconsistent healthcare services.
Reacting to the public outcry following the directive, Akpabio dismissed claims that embassies were shutting down because of Nigerian elections.
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While stating that such assumptions were misplaced, he noted, “Some people say that even now, some embassies are closing down. Not many embassies are actually closing; many of the embassies are afraid of repercussions from their foes.”
The former Akwa Ibom Governor went on to explain that the United States might be taking precautionary steps due to rising tensions with adversaries such as Iran.
“For instance, I can say that America is a bit worried about a bomb blast from Iran, and so across the world they have to reduce their staff in case Iran decides to attack their embassies,” Akpabio stated.
He further cautioned Nigerians against linking such developments to domestic politics, particularly the upcoming elections.
“But people are thinking, oh, Nigerian embassies are closing because an election is coming. It’s not because an election is coming. Elections will come and go, and God will protect you,” he added.
He concluded by reassuring citizens of their safety, expressing confidence that Nigeria remains secure despite global uncertainties.