By Alleged Shutdown of US Embassies in Nigeria
Found to be False
Abuja, Nigeria — A recent claim circulating on social media alleging that the United States has shut down its embassy in Abuja and consulate general in Lagos has been found to be false.
The unverified report, posted by @Gist_Reports on X (formerly Twitter) on May 25, 2025, claims both U.S. diplomatic missions in Nigeria have been closed. However, AfrikTimes’ fact-check reveals no credible evidence from official sources to support this claim.
As of today, both the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos remain fully operational, according to information available on the official U.S. Embassy website and other verified government communication channels.
Previous closures, such as the one on February 17, 2025, were due to the U.S. Presidents’ Day holiday, with operations resuming the next day—a routine administrative break, not a permanent shutdown.
While reports from April 2025 suggest that the Trump administration is considering closing nearly 30 overseas diplomatic posts to cut costs, Nigeria is not among the affected countries. Embassies in Eritrea, Gambia, and South Sudan, as well as consulates in Cameroon and South Africa, were named, but Nigeria’s missions were explicitly excluded from the list.
The claim appears to be misinformation likely driven by speculation amid Nigeria’s current economic pressures and regional diplomatic concerns. U.S. citizens and Nigerians are advised to seek updates from reliable sources like ng.usembassy.gov or travel.state.gov rather than unverified social media posts.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult official U.S. Embassy communications and plan visits around scheduled public holidays such as National Maritime Day (May 22, 2025), which may temporarily affect embassy hours.
