The United States Embassy in Nigeria has assured Nigerians that visa and passport services remain unaffected by the ongoing partial shutdown of the U.S. government.
In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, the embassy said:
“Due to the lapse in appropriations, this X account will not be updated regularly until full operations resume, with the exception of urgent safety and security information. At this time, scheduled passport and visa services in the United States and at U.S. Embassies and Consulates overseas will continue during the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits.”
The embassy clarified that while consular services will proceed as scheduled, its social media updates will be limited to urgent safety and security advisories until a funding deal is reached in Washington.
The announcement comes as students, business travelers, and families in Nigeria voiced concerns that the U.S. shutdown could derail travel plans, school resumption dates, or international business engagements.
The shutdown began after Congress and President Donald Trump failed to agree on a new budget. While essential services such as the military, Social Security, and the postal service continue, hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been placed on unpaid leave.
The embassy advised Nigerians to rely on travel.state.gov for the most accurate and up-to-date information on passport and visa services, including appointment schedules and processing updates.
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