US Embassy in Abuja Shuts Down Over Protest Fears

The United States Mission in Nigeria has closed its embassy in Abuja for routine activities due to concerns about possible protests in the Federal Capital Territory.

The announcement was made on Thursday through a notice shared on the mission’s official social media page. According to the information released, the embassy will remain closed for routine services until Monday, March 9, 2026.

The decision affects visa applicants and people who had appointments for American Citizen Services at the embassy.

Visa appointments scheduled for March 4 and March 5, as well as citizen service appointments fixed for March 5, have been moved to new dates next week.

The mission advised those affected to check their email messages or their AVITs accounts to confirm the new appointment schedules.

Applicants who do not receive updated appointment details were asked to contact the Visa Navigator platform for assistance.

The mission also encouraged the public to continue checking its official website and social media pages for further information or changes regarding embassy services.

The closure follows earlier reports that some visa appointments scheduled for March 4 were cancelled because of similar security concerns.

Authorities were reportedly monitoring the situation in Abuja due to the possibility of demonstrations in the city.

Security agencies were seen deployed across different parts of Abuja on Wednesday as officials prepared for a possible protest by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

The planned demonstration was linked to recent protests recorded in several states, including Niger, Sokoto, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, and Lagos.

The group was said to be expressing support for Iran following reports about the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during airstrikes reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel.

The movement described its actions as a peaceful show of solidarity with the country.

The United States Mission stated that the temporary closure was a precautionary step while authorities monitor the situation in the capital.

Normal embassy activities are expected to resume once the security concerns reduce and operations return to normal.