The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria resumes services at full capacity. This applies to the Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos. The move officially ends all disruptions caused by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Consular Services Back Online
Federal agencies across the U.S. are now reopening. This follows a 43-day lapse in funding. On Friday, the diplomatic posts in Nigeria confirmed their return to normal operations.
“US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria have resumed full operations,” the embassy announced. Consequently, all American citizen services and visa services are proceeding as scheduled.
Relief After Significant Disruptions
This news is a major relief for many. The weeks-long impasse caused significant consular disruptions.
During the shutdown, routine services were severely limited or postponed. This included passport renewals, non-immigrant visa interviews, and notarial functions. These postponements created significant backlogs.
How Washington Ended the Stalemate
The government shutdown began on October 1, 2025. It resulted from a bitter congressional stalemate over federal funding.
The crisis finally concluded late Wednesday. President Donald Trump signed a new bipartisan funding bill into law. This important package extends government funding until January 30, 2026.
The House of Representatives approved the bill 222-209. This followed the Senate, which had already cleared the package 60-40.
The core of the shutdown was a legislative disagreement. Republicans demanded that the spending bill include an extension of expiring tax credits. These credits were designed to make health insurance more affordable. When the Senate failed to agree, the government shut down for the first time in nearly seven years.
_____________________________________________________
