The United States Department of State has ordered the departure of non-essential personnel and family members from its embassy in Abuja, citing deteriorating security conditions across Nigeria.
In a sharply worded travel advisory issued Wednesday, Washington urged American citizens to reconsider all travel to the country effective April 8, 2026, pointing to a convergence of rising violent crime, terrorism threats, kidnapping incidents, civil unrest, and constrained healthcare infrastructure.
Nigeria remains under a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” classification. However, the advisory escalates concerns by designating 23 states under the more severe “Level 4: Do Not Travel” category the highest risk level in the U.S. travel advisory system.
New additions to the Level 4 list include Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, and Taraba states, joining persistently volatile regions such as Borno, Yobe, and parts of Adamawa, where insurgency and abductions continue to pose significant threats.
The advisory also extends warnings to several southern states including Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers over widespread criminality and unrest, although it notably exempts Port Harcourt from the strictest classification.
U.S. authorities warned that violent crimes such as armed robbery, carjacking, and kidnapping for ransom remain prevalent, with foreign nationals including Americans sometimes deliberately targeted. It further cautioned that terrorist attacks could occur without warning, particularly in high-density civilian locations such as markets, places of worship, hotels, and public events.
Beyond security concerns, the State Department flagged systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s healthcare delivery, noting that medical services in many parts of the country fall below international standards and may be insufficient in emergency situations.
Americans intending to travel to Nigeria have been advised to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), maintain heightened situational awareness, avoid public demonstrations, and establish robust personal security protocols.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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