Middle East Crisis: US closes Abuja embassy, reschedules appointments over protest fears
Oladipupo Olamiposi@olamiposioladipupo247606
2 days ago
The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced the temporary closure of its embassy in Abuja for routine business, citing potential protests in the nation’s capital.
In a notice shared via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, the Mission stated that the embassy will remain closed until Monday, March 9, 2026.
The statement read, “Due to the potential for protests in Abuja, the U.S. Embassy will be closed for routine business until Monday, March 9, 2026.
“Visa appointments originally scheduled for March 4 and 5, as well as American Citizen Services (ACS) appointments scheduled for March 5, have been rescheduled to next week.”
“Visa applicants: Please check your email or AVITs account for your new appointment date. ACS applicants: Please check your email for your new appointment date,” the Mission advised.
The Mission further instructed visa applicants who do not receive a new appointment to seek assistance through the Visa Navigator platform and urged the public to monitor its official website and social media channels for further updates.
On Tuesday, members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, popularly known as Shi’ites, staged a peaceful protest in Potiskum and Nguru Local Government Areas of Yobe State, condemning the killing of Khamenei, whom they described as a revered spiritual leader.
Protesters marched through the towns carrying Iranian flags and large portraits of Khamenei, chanting slogans expressing solidarity with Iran and opposition to what they termed foreign interference.
