Africa-Press. The United States Embassy in Nigeria announced the cancellation of all visa appointments scheduled in the capital, Abuja, until March 9, warning of possible protests linked to regional tensions.
In a statement posted on its website, the embassy said there is a “high likelihood of demonstrations” in Abuja and urged American citizens to exercise caution and remain at home. It noted that previous protests had witnessed violent clashes between demonstrators and Nigerian security forces, raising concerns about a similar scenario.
The warning comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran following a series of attacks and military responses in the Gulf region. Tehran has declared it will continue responding to US strikes, while several Western diplomatic missions in various countries fear the crisis may have security repercussions.
The conflict, which began late last week, appears to be moving toward an open confrontation, now entering its sixth day without clear signs of de-escalation.
Questions remain about the ability of Nigerian authorities to balance freedom of expression with maintaining security as the repercussions of the US–Iran conflict accelerate, echoing even in countries geographically distant but politically connected to developments in the Middle East.
