The United States Mission in Nigeria has temporarily shut down routine services at its embassy in Abuja amid concerns over possible protests in the Federal Capital Territory.
In a notice posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, the Mission said the embassy would remain closed for regular operations until Monday, March 9, 2026.
“Due to the potential for protests in Abuja, the U.S. Embassy will be closed for routine business until Monday, March 9, 2026,” the statement said.
The Mission also announced that visa interviews scheduled for March 4 and 5, as well as American Citizen Services (ACS) appointments planned for March 5, have been moved to new dates next week.
Visa applicants were advised to check their email messages or log into their AVITs accounts for updated appointment schedules. Likewise, ACS applicants were told to monitor their emails for their rescheduled dates.
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The embassy further stated that applicants who do not receive updated appointments should seek assistance through the Visa Navigator platform. It also urged members of the public to follow its official website and social media pages for additional updates.
Earlier, the embassy had already cancelled visa interviews slated for March 4 because of similar security concerns tied to possible demonstrations in the capital.
Reports indicate the closure came amid a strong presence of security personnel across Abuja following intelligence about a potential protest by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).
Similar demonstrations linked to the group were recently reported in several states, including Niger, Sokoto, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, and Lagos.
According to reports, the IMN described the protests as a peaceful show of solidarity with Iran, following claims that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in airstrikes allegedly carried out by the United States and Israel.
