US clarifies Abuja embassy not closing despite visa processing shake-up

The US Department of State has clarified that its embassy in Abuja is not closing, following the realignment of routine visa processing services from Nigeria and several other African countries to designated regional visa hubs.The clarification comes after the U.S. announced changes to its visa operations across Africa, effective August 1, 2026, as part of an effort to strengthen security screening, improve efficiency and align its overseas operations with U.S. national interests.Under the new