Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate, has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation following the United States’ decision to authorise the evacuation of some of its embassy personnel from the country.
The development has also led to the suspension of visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, further highlighting growing international concerns about security conditions in Nigeria.
Reacting in a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Obi described the U.S. directive as a troubling signal that should be treated as a national emergency, especially for a country seeking to attract foreign investment.
“The recent directive by the United States to evacuate its embassy staff from Nigeria due to rising insecurity is deeply worrisome and should be treated as a national emergency, particularly for a country already struggling to attract investors,” Obi said.
According to him, the decision by the U.S. government reflects declining confidence in Nigeria’s security architecture and underscores the urgent need for decisive action by authorities.
“The U.S. directive is a clear signal of declining confidence in our national security architecture. A nation where people cannot live, work, worship, or travel safely cannot progress or attract investment,” he added.
The former Anambra State governor noted that Nigeria’s security challenges continue to escalate despite the country already ranking among the most affected nations on the Global Terrorism Index.
He lamented that communities across the country remain under constant threat, while governance appears unable to effectively tackle the crisis.
“There is a glaring absence of effective governance. Instead, what prevails are schemes that undermine democratic processes, as though politics has taken precedence over the safety of citizens,” Obi stated.
He also linked the development to broader concerns about Nigeria’s stability and its capacity to provide a secure environment for citizens and investors.
Obi further expressed concern over reports that a brigadier general of the Nigerian Army was recently killed by terrorists in Borno State, describing the incident as another grim reminder of the country’s fragile security situation.
“The primary duty of any government is the protection of lives and property, yet in this regard we as leaders have fallen short over the years. Our failure continues to place immense strain on our troops, who make the ultimate sacrifices,” he said.
He criticised what he described as the political class’s focus on partisan interests while the country grapples with worsening insecurity.
“Sadly, as Nigeria deteriorates, we as leaders, like Nero, remain preoccupied with politics, forgetting that without security there is no nation to govern and no future to campaign for,” Obi added.
Meanwhile, the United States Embassy in Abuja has cancelled all visa appointments scheduled at its facility, advising applicants to check their emails for information about rescheduled dates.
In a notice issued on Thursday, the embassy said visa processing services in Abuja had been temporarily suspended, although operations would continue at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.
The embassy also stated that American Citizen Services remain available in Abuja but only by appointment or in emergency situations.
The development followed a directive by the U.S. Department of State authorising the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members from the embassy in Abuja due to worsening security conditions.
In an updated travel advisory, the State Department warned American citizens to reconsider travelling to Nigeria, citing threats including crime, terrorism, kidnapping and civil unrest.
“On April 8, 2026, the Department of State authorised non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave the U.S. Embassy in Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation,” the advisory said.
Nigeria remains under a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” warning, while several states have been placed under the stricter Level 4 “Do Not Travel” category.
The states listed under the highest warning level include Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and northern Adamawa, where authorities cited terrorism, kidnapping and widespread criminal activity as major security threats.
Obi concluded by urging urgent reforms to address Nigeria’s security challenges, stressing that restoring safety is critical to rebuilding investor confidence and securing the country’s future.
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