The United States Embassy in Nigeria has rescheduled visa and consular appointments in Abuja following security concerns linked to possible protests in the Federal Capital Territory.
In a notice posted on its official X account, the embassy announced that routine consular operations would remain suspended until Monday, March 9, 2026, as a precautionary measure due to the potential for demonstrations in the nation’s capital.
The embassy explained that visa appointments earlier scheduled for March 4 and March 5 have been moved to new dates next week. Applicants affected by the change have been advised to check their email inboxes or log into their AVITS accounts to confirm their updated appointment schedules.
Appointments for American Citizen Services (ACS) originally fixed for March 5 have also been rescheduled as part of the precautionary measures.
The diplomatic mission said the decision was taken to ensure the safety of applicants, staff and visitors to the embassy premises amid uncertainty surrounding planned protests in Abuja.
The embassy urged applicants not to travel to the embassy until they receive confirmation of their new appointment dates, adding that those with urgent travel needs may follow the standard procedures for requesting emergency visa appointments.
The United States Embassy maintains one of the busiest visa sections in Nigeria, handling thousands of immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications annually from Nigerians seeking to travel for tourism, business, education and family visits.
Although the embassy did not specify the groups behind the potential protests, authorities in Abuja have recently heightened security in parts of the Federal Capital Territory following calls for demonstrations by some civil society groups over economic and governance issues.
The embassy said it would continue to monitor the situation and resume full consular services once it is satisfied that conditions are safe for normal operations.
