Non-essential personnel and families in Abuja told to depart as Washington raises alarm, maintains Level 3 travel advisory

The United States government has begun the evacuation of its personnel and their families from Nigeria, citing a deteriorating security situation across the country.

In an official update issued on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State announced that non-emergency government employees, along with their dependents at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, have been authorised to leave Nigeria as a precautionary measure.

According to the statement, the decision follows a reassessment of the country’s security landscape, which Washington says has shown signs of decline in recent times.

“Nigeria: On April 8, 2026, the Department of State authorised non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave U.S. Embassy Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation,” the statement read.

The advisory also reaffirmed Nigeria’s current travel status as Level 3: Reconsider Travel, urging American citizens to exercise increased caution when considering trips to the country.

While the U.S. government did not provide specific details on the nature of the threats, the move signals growing international concern over safety conditions, particularly in key areas including the federal capital.

The evacuation applies strictly to non-essential staff, with core diplomatic operations expected to continue.