The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos have announced an unexpected temporary closure ahead of the Christmas celebrations.
In a statement shared on its official X account, the US mission confirmed that both offices will suspend operations during the festive period.
The announcement, dated December 23, 2025, immediately drew attention due to the timing and ongoing visa concerns affecting Nigerians.
According to the post, “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 closure means visa services, passport processing, and other consular activities will be paused for three days.
However, the development comes at a sensitive moment.
Many Nigerians are already facing uncertainty following recent changes in US immigration policy.
Therefore, the timing of the closure has raised fresh concerns among travelers, students, and business owners.
Meanwhile, the announcement follows closely after reports that President Donald Trump approved a visa ban affecting Nigeria.
The policy, introduced in December 2025, places restrictions on both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including student, tourist, and business categories.
US authorities have argued that Nigeria showed “persistent and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing.”
As a result, the ban is scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026. It will apply to Nigerians outside the United States who do not already hold valid visas.
Moreover, the US visa process has undergone several changes this year. In addition to the ban, stricter measures have been introduced for certain applicants.
From December 15, 2025, mandatory social media checks were added for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants.
Furthermore, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has tightened oversight of H-1B visas.
Priority is now being given to higher-skilled and higher-paid workers, making approvals more competitive.
Although the embassy closure was explained as part of routine holiday observance, it has been viewed by some as another layer of inconvenience.
Therefore, Nigerians with urgent travel or documentation needs are being advised to plan ahead.
In the meantime, applicants have been reminded that normal operations will resume on December 29.
