U.S. Orders Embassy Staff Out of Abuja Amid Security Concerns

On April 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of State issued an updated travel advisory, ordering the departure of U.S. embassy staff and their families from Abuja due to a deteriorating security situation in Nigeria.

The advisory classified Nigeria's overall travel risk as Level 3, advising reconsideration of travel, while 23 states were designated as Level 4, indicating they should not be traveled to. The states listed as not safe include Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe, with warnings about terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.

Additionally, the advisory urged U.S. citizens to avoid other states such as Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara due to civil unrest and violent crime. The advisory highlighted that violent crime, including armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom, is widespread, and U.S. citizens are perceived as wealthy targets.

The advisory also noted the limited health services in Nigeria, which do not meet U.S. or European standards, and encouraged U.S. citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for safety.