The United States Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Friday, July 4, 2025, in observance of U.S. Independence Day. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria announced this in a public notice shared via its official X handle on Wednesday.
The temporary closure will suspend all routine consular services, including visa interviews, passport renewals, and notarial services. These services are expected to resume on Monday, July 7, 2025. U.S. citizens in Nigeria with emergencies are advised to contact the embassy’s emergency lines for assistance.
The closure comes during a busy period for travel, studies, and family visits, and will affect applicants with pending consular appointments.
Background
U.S. Independence Day, celebrated on July 4, commemorates the 1776 adoption of the Declaration of Independence, marking the American colonies’ break from British rule. The national holiday is typically celebrated with parades, fireworks, and patriotic events, and U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide close in observance.
At a recent dinner in Abuja marking America’s 249th Independence anniversary, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, highlighted growing ties between both nations. He noted that bilateral trade has reached nearly $13 billion in the past year, with U.S. foreign direct investment in Nigeria rising to $6.5 billion in 2024—a 5.5% increase from 2022. Over 80 American firms are active in Nigeria, spanning energy, tech, agriculture, and consumer goods.
Mills also praised the Nigerian diaspora in the U.S.—the largest African community there—whose members contribute significantly in fields such as healthcare, finance, and technology.
