By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

The United States has ordered the departure of some embassy staff and their family members from Abuja over rising security concerns in Nigeria.

In a travel advisory issued on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State said the decision followed a deteriorating security situation in parts of the country.

While Nigeria remains under a Level 3 advisory—urging Americans to reconsider travel—23 states have now been placed under a stricter Level 4 warning, meaning travel is strongly discouraged.

The update, however, does not change Nigeria’s overall advisory level but reflects new concerns and adjustments to U.S. embassy operations.

Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger and Taraba states were newly added to the highest risk category.

Other states under the “Do Not Travel” classification include Borno, Kogi, Yobe and parts of Adamawa, largely due to terrorism, crime and kidnapping.

Also listed are Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara, where insecurity, civil unrest and armed criminal activities persist.

In the South and Southeast, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo and Rivers states—excluding Port Harcourt—were cited for high levels of crime, kidnapping and unrest.

The advisory warned that violent crimes such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking and kidnapping for ransom remain prevalent across Nigeria, with foreign nationals often targeted.

It also highlighted the risk of terrorist attacks in public places, including markets, shopping centres, schools, places of worship and transport hubs, noting that such incidents can occur without warning.

Additionally, the report pointed to ongoing civil unrest and the activities of armed groups in parts of southern Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta and the Southeast.

On healthcare, the U.S. noted that medical services in Nigeria are limited and inconsistent, with many facilities falling below international standards. Concerns were also raised about shortages of essential medicines, unreliable emergency response systems and the circulation of counterfeit drugs.

The U.S. government advised its citizens who must travel to Nigeria to exercise caution, avoid large gatherings, monitor local developments and adopt adequate personal safety measures, including emergency planning.