The United States has directed non-emergency embassy personnel and their families to depart Nigeria, citing a “deteriorating security situation” across the country, according to an updated advisory issued. The move underscores Washington’s warning that it cannot provide emergency support to U.S. citizens in many regions of Nigeria.
The U.S. Department of State maintained Nigeria at a Level 3 travel advisory, advising citizens to reconsider travel, while designating several states under Level 4, the highest alert, where all travel is discouraged. High-risk areas include Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Niger, Taraba, Jigawa, Kwara, Kogi, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, and parts of Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states.
In its guidance, the State Department highlighted violent crime, including armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping for ransom, and assaults. It noted that extremist groups continue to coordinate attacks with local criminal gangs, often striking with little or no warning in public spaces such as markets, transportation hubs, places of worship, and schools.
The advisory also emphasized that healthcare facilities may not meet U.S. standards, with limited emergency services, unreliable blood supply, and the frequent presence of counterfeit medications. Travelers were urged to carry sufficient prescription and over-the-counter medicines and to secure comprehensive medical evacuation insurance.
The departure order reflects the gap between ongoing U.S.–Nigeria security cooperation and the daily risks faced by civilians. Washington and Abuja continue to collaborate on intelligence sharing, counterterrorism operations, and military training, but the advisory makes clear that the U.S. cannot act as an emergency center for its citizens in Nigeria. Nigerian authorities have yet to issue a formal response to the latest directive.
