The United States Embassy in Nigeria has cancelled all visa appointments scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2026, over fears of possible protests in Abuja linked to the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran.
In a statement published on its official website, the embassy alerted American citizens to what it described as a “high potential for protests” in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging them to remain indoors.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja informs U.S. citizens that there is a high potential for protests in Abuja tomorrow, March 4, 2026, due to the current conflict with Iran,” the statement read.
It added that previous demonstrations by certain groups had resulted in violent clashes with Nigerian security forces, stressing that all U.S. citizens in Abuja were strongly advised to stay in their residences for the day.
As a result of the security concerns, the embassy announced the cancellation of all visa appointments for the day.
Affected applicants, it said, would be contacted with instructions on how to reschedule, while advising the public to monitor its website and social media platforms for further updates.
The security alert follows reports that U.S.-Israel airstrikes over the weekend killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior Iranian officials.
The development has significantly heightened tensions in the Middle East.
In retaliation, Iran reportedly launched multiple missiles targeting U.S military installations in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, vowing to avenge the killing of its leader and other top officials.
The conflict, now in its fifth day, has continued to escalate with no immediate signs of de-escalation.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that it was too late for Iran to seek negotiations, despite signals from Tehran suggesting openness to dialogue.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said ‘Too Late!’”
Speaking later at the White House during a meeting with German leader Friedrich Merz, Trump claimed the strikes had inflicted extensive damage on Iran’s military infrastructure.
“Just about everything’s been knocked out,” he said, adding that he believed Iran had been preparing an attack before the joint U.S.-Israeli operation.
“I think they were going to attack first, and I didn’t want that to happen. So, if anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand,” Trump stated.
He also acknowledged concerns about the possibility of a successor emerging in Iran with similar views to the late Supreme Leader.
“I guess the worst case would be, we do this, and then somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person. That could happen. We don’t want that to happen,” he said.
However, Iranian authorities have ruled out negotiations with Washington. Mohammad Mokhber, a senior aide to the late Khamenei, said there was “no basis for any negotiations” with the United States, insisting that Iran could continue the war for as long as necessary.
Meanwhile, Iran has announced a three-day state funeral for the slain Supreme Leader.
According to the official news agency IRNA, members of the public will be allowed to pay their last respects at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran before his burial in Mashhad, his hometown in northeastern Iran.
Khamenei was 86 years old at the time of his death.
