The United States Embassy in Abuja and the United States Consulate General in Lagos have officially resumed all operations, including American citizen services and visa processing, following the end of a 43-day partial federal government shutdown in the United States.
Okay News reports that the announcement coincides with federal agencies across the United States beginning a phased reopening, marking the conclusion of the longest government shutdown in American history.
In an official post on its X account on Friday, the embassy stated, “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.”
The shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025, arose from a congressional deadlock over federal funding, affecting non-essential government functions and leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees either furloughed or working without pay.
Earlier, the embassy had indicated on social media that due to the funding lapse, updates would be limited to urgent safety or security matters. “At this time, scheduled passport and visa transit services in the United States and at US Embassies and Consulates overseas will continue during the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits. We will not update this account until full operations resume, with the exception of urgent safety and security information,” the embassy said on October 1.
President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan funding bill late Wednesday, extending government funding through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year appropriations for critical sectors. The Republican-controlled House had approved the measure earlier the same day by a vote of 222 to 209, with six Democrats joining Republicans.
The Senate had passed the legislation two days earlier by a 60-40 vote, with seven Democrats and one independent senator siding with Republicans. The legislation also included temporary provisions for other federal agencies, preventing further immediate crises.
For United States citizens and visa applicants in Nigeria, the resumption of embassy and consulate activities signals a return to normal operations. During the shutdown, routine services such as passport renewals, notarial acts, and non-immigrant visa interviews were limited or postponed, creating significant backlogs.
Why Did The United States Government Shut Down?
In the United States political system, both chambers of Congress must approve a spending plan for the president to sign into law. While the House passed a temporary funding bill to avert a shutdown, the Senate could not clear it initially due to Democratic opposition. Republicans, despite controlling both chambers, were seven votes short of the 60 required in the Senate to pass the bill, with a central demand being the extension of expiring health insurance tax credits.
As a result, the United States government experienced a shutdown starting October 1, 2025, the first in nearly seven years.
