The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will suspend operations on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The US Mission in Nigeria announced the closure on Sunday via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, noting that both diplomatic facilities would not be open to the public for routine services on the day.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federally recognised public holiday in the United States, marked annually on the third Monday of January to celebrate the life and legacy of the iconic civil rights leader.
Dr. King is remembered globally for his advocacy for racial equality and his commitment to nonviolent resistance.
The holiday was formally established on November 2, 1983, after then-President Ronald Reagan signed it into law.
The first nationwide observance took place on January 20, 1986, close to Dr. King’s birthday on January 15.
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As a result of the closure, visa processing and other routine consular services will be temporarily unavailable to Nigerians and other residents who depend on US diplomatic offices.
However, the mission assured that emergency services for US citizens would remain accessible through designated emergency channels.
Normal operations at both the Abuja Embassy and the Lagos Consulate are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.