In respect of Nigeria’s national mourning over the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos have announced their closure for Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
This move follows the Nigerian government’s declaration of the day as a public holiday to honour the late leader.
The announcement was made public via the official X account of the US Mission in Nigeria on Monday. In the statement, the embassy noted, “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in observance of the public holiday declared by the Nigerian government in honor of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.”
The embassy further confirmed that all visa appointments scheduled for July 15 would be rescheduled. Applicants whose interviews or appointments were set for the now-cancelled day will be notified of their new dates in due time.
Operations at both the embassy and consulate are expected to resume following the holiday.
This decision comes amid a wider observance of mourning across the country. The Nigerian government declared Tuesday a work-free day, as part of a week-long period of national mourning following Buhari’s death on Sunday, July 13. The 82-year-old former leader passed away in a London hospital after battling an undisclosed illness.
The late President Muhammadu Buhari, who once served as Nigeria’s military ruler from 1984 to 1985 before being elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, remains a deeply significant figure in Nigeria’s modern political history. Tributes have continued to pour in from across the globe, as Nigerians and international communities honour his legacy.
The closure of the US diplomatic offices underscores the global recognition of Buhari’s impact and the solidarity extended by international partners during this time of national bereavement.
What you should know
In honour of Nigeria’s late former President Muhammadu Buhari, the US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria will remain closed on July 15, 2025.
Visa appointments for the day will be rescheduled, and normal operations will resume after the national holiday.
