U.S. Shuts Abuja Embassy, Lagos Consulate

The United States Government has announced the temporary closure of its diplomatic missions in Nigeria for the Christmas holidays.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria confirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will suspend operations for three days, from Wednesday, December 24, to Friday, December 26, 2025.

According to the statement, normal consular and administrative services will resume on Monday, December 29, 2025.

“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Wednesday, December 24 through Friday, December 26, 2025. We will resume normal work operations on Monday, December 29, 2025,” the mission stated.

The temporary closure will affect routine consular services, including visa processing and other non-emergency services. However, emergency assistance for U.S. citizens will remain available in line with standard diplomatic procedures during public holidays.

The closure is part of the annual Christmas holiday observance and aligns with global practices across U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.

Members of the public with urgent matters have been advised to plan accordingly and await the resumption of services when the offices reopen next week.