The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos have fully restored all operations — including American citizen services and visa processing — following the end of a 43-day partial government shutdown in the United States.
The resumption was confirmed in a post on the Embassy’s official X account on Friday, marking relief for thousands of applicants affected by the prolonged funding impasse. The shutdown, which started on October 1, 2025, had disrupted several non-essential federal functions across the US, making it the longest shutdown in the country’s history.
According to the Embassy, all consular services are now operating on schedule:
“End of Lapse of Appropriations. US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria have resumed full operations. American citizen services and visa services are proceeding as scheduled.”
During the shutdown, the Embassy had warned that its social media platforms would only provide urgent safety updates, as routine communication would pause until full funding was restored.
The shutdown concluded late Wednesday after President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan funding bill extending government operations through January 30, 2026, and securing full-year appropriations for several critical sectors. The bill cleared the House earlier in the day with a vote of 222–209, including support from six Democrats. It had passed the Senate two days earlier in a 60–40 vote, with seven Democrats and one independent joining Republicans.
The funding package also includes temporary measures to keep other agencies running, averting further immediate disruptions.
For US citizens and visa applicants in Nigeria, the reopening ends weeks of delays in services such as passport renewals, notarial appointments, and non-immigrant visa interviews — many of which had been postponed, creating significant backlogs.
The shutdown stemmed from a congressional standoff over federal spending. Although Republicans controlled both chambers, they initially lacked the 60 Senate votes needed to advance a funding bill. Their insistence on including an extension of soon-to-expire health-insurance tax credits further stalled negotiations, ultimately triggering the October 1 shutdown — the first in nearly seven years.
With government operations now restored, consular services in Nigeria have returned to normal, offering relief to thousands affected by the weeks-long disruption.