By Abiola Olawale
The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced that the US Embassy in Abuja and the US Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The closure affects all regular diplomatic and consular services, including visa interviews, American Citizen Services (ACS), and routine document processing.
Normal operations and scheduled appointments are set to resume on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page on Sunday.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of George Washington, but has now become a day to celebrate all United States presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the public holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the embassy shared a historical fact about Washington, saying he created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart.
It added that the Purple Heart medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
