The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos have announced that they will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025, in observance of Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday in the US.
The US Embassy said this closure aligns with the annual tradition of honouring past and present US presidents, with a particular focus on George Washington, the nation’s first president, and Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, whose leadership during critical moments in American history is widely celebrated.
The Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that Presidents’ Day is observed annually on the third Monday of February in the United States.
Originally established in 1879 to commemorate George Washington’s birthday, which falls on February 22, the holiday was later adjusted under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971.
This act shifted the observance to the third Monday of February to provide American workers with more three-day weekends while still honouring the legacy of the nation’s leaders.
Over time, the holiday evolved to recognize not only Washington but all US presidents, past and present.
The US Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos, the two primary US diplomatic missions in Nigeria, announced that they will suspend all routine consular services on Monday, February 17, 2025.
This includes services such as visa applications, passport processing, and other administrative functions. The closure was officially announced through statements posted on X.
According to the announcement, normal operations at both the embassy and the consulate will resume on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025, in observance of Presidents’ Day. We will resume normal operations on Tuesday, 18 February 2025,” the mission said.
