ABUJA — The United States Government has initiated the withdrawal of non-essential personnel and their families from Nigeria, citing a worsening security environment across parts of the country.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State confirmed that it has authorised the departure of non-emergency staff from its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, as part of precautionary measures.
“Nigeria: On April 8, 2026, the Department of State authorised 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.”
The advisory comes amid heightened concerns over crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping, which U.S. authorities say continue to pose risks in several regions of the country.
“The overall Travel Advisory for Nigeria is Level 3: Reconsider Travel,” the statement added.
Under the Level 3 classification, American citizens are urged to carefully evaluate the necessity of travel to Nigeria, with particular attention to safety conditions and limited access to consistent healthcare services.
“Reconsider 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,” the state department warned.
The advisory further highlights specific areas considered high-risk, including much of northern Nigeria, as well as states in the country’s south and southeast such as Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and parts of Rivers State, where incidents of violence and abductions have been reported.
