The United States will stop routine visa processing at its embassy in Abuja from August 1, 2026, according to reports citing a State Department reorganisation of consular work in Africa.
Punch and Daily Post reported that Abuja is among 25 African diplomatic posts where routine visa services will be moved as the US centralises processing in regional hubs.
The reports said the affected posts include Abuja, Asmara, Bamako, Banjul, Brazzaville, Bujumbura, Conakry, Cotonou, Durban, Freetown, Gaborone, Harare, Juba, Libreville, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Maseru, Mbabane, N’Djamena, Niamey, Nouakchott, Ouagadougou and Windhoek.
The State Department said the change affects routine visa processing, not the operational status of the embassies and consulates. It said US posts would continue to provide emergency and other essential services.
For applicants in Nigeria, the change means routine visa processing will no longer be handled at the Abuja embassy after the stated date. The reports did not say that the Lagos consulate would stop routine processing under the same decision.
Sources: Punch, Daily Post
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