The United States has authorized the departure of non-emergency government employees and eligible family members from its embassy in Abuja, citing what it described as a deteriorating security situation in Nigeria. The measure was announced in an updated Nigeria travel advisory issued by the U.S. Department of State on April 8, 2026.
In the same advisory, Washington retained Nigeria at Level 3: Reconsider Travel and expanded the list of locations under its strictest warning category, “Do Not Travel.” The U.S. said the affected areas face elevated risks linked to terrorism, crime, kidnapping, and unrest.
The areas listed under the “Do Not Travel” warning are Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, northern Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers State except Port Harcourt. The advisory noted that Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, and Taraba were newly added to that category.
According to the State Department, violent crime remains widespread across Nigeria, with kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, and communal violence among the major concerns. It also warned that U.S. government assistance to American citizens may be limited in some locations because of the risks involved.
While the advisory has fueled concern online, its wording is more specific than some social media claims suggest. The U.S. did not say all 23 locations are entire states in every case; rather, the warning covers a combination of full states and parts of certain states.
Credit: U.S. Department of State.
