By Obinna Uballa
The United States Embassy in Nigeria has cancelled all visa appointments in Abuja scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2026, warning of a “high potential for protests” in the Federal Capital Territory due to escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
The New Diplomat had reported that the embassy earlier issued a security alert, advising US citizens to stay indoors over impending protests in Abuja.
Addressing the concerns further in a statement released on its website, the embassy said it was suspending visa services.
“Previous protests by some groups have resulted in violent clashes between the groups and Nigerian security forces,” the advisory said. “The Embassy strongly recommends that all U.S. citizens in Abuja remain in their residences on Wednesday, March 4.”
The warning follows the U.S.-Israel airstrikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several high-ranking Iranian officials. The strikes, which took place four days ago, prompted retaliatory missile attacks by Tehran on U.S. bases in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia.
The conflict, now in its fifth day, has heightened global tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that it was too late for Iran to pursue negotiations, despite earlier signals from Tehran expressing willingness to talk. Speaking at the White House, Trump said, “Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said ‘Too Late!’”
Trump also claimed the strikes were necessary to prevent an imminent attack by Iran and suggested that U.S. action may have forced Israel’s hand in the joint operation. He warned of the risk of a new Iranian leader emerging in the wake of Khamenei’s death but said that the strikes had eliminated potential successors.
Iran, however, ruled out any negotiations with the United States. Mohammad Mokhber, a senior aide to the late Supreme Leader, stated, “We can continue the war as long as we want,” emphasizing the country’s determination to retaliate.
The Islamic Republic has begun a three-day state funeral for Ayatollah Khamenei, according to the official Irna news agency. His body will lie in state at the Imam Khomenei Grand Mosque in Tehran before burial in his hometown of Mashhad. Khamenei was 86 years old at the time of his death.
