“US embassy in Nigeria is shutting down due to Iran fear, not election” – Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed claims that embassies are shutting down ahead of the 2027 elections due to security concerns, saying the situation has been misunderstood by many Nigerians.

Speaking during a plenary session, he explained that the movement of diplomatic staff in some countries is not linked to Nigeria’s election but rather global security concerns and fears of possible attacks, particularly between Iran and US.

“Some people are saying that some embassies are closing down. Not many embassies are closing down. Many of the embassies are afraid of the repercussions from their foes.

For instance, I can see that America is a bit worried about the bomb blast from Iran. And so across the world, they have to reduce their staff in case Iran decides to attack the embassies. People are thinking embassy is closing down because election is coming, it’s not because of election. Election will come and go,” he said.

Akpabio added that some Nigerians wrongly believe the changes in embassy operations are connected to the upcoming elections, stressing that elections will come and go without affecting diplomatic decisions.

He urged the public to avoid spreading misinformation, noting that global security concerns, not Nigeria’s political calendar, are responsible for the adjustments in embassy operations.

This comes days after the United States Embassy in Abuja has suspended all scheduled visa appointments amid rising security concerns in Nigeria.