US Embassy in Nigeria Suspends Social Media Activities Amid Government Shutdown
- The United States Embassy in Nigeria has paused routine updates on its X account due to a partial government shutdown in Washington
- The suspension, triggered by a lapse in appropriations, would affect non-essential communications but not consular services
- US Embassies worldwide have issued similar notices, limiting posts to urgent safety and security information
The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced a temporary halt to routine updates on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, citing the ongoing government funding deadlock in Washington.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 1 October, the Embassy confirmed that the suspension was due to a “lapse in appropriations,” a diplomatic term referring to the partial shutdown of the U.S. government. The shutdown followed Congress’s failure to pass a new budget or a stopgap funding bill.
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“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,” the Embassy stated.
The Embassy clarified that while routine posts would be paused, updates concerning emergencies, security advisories, or travel warnings for U.S. citizens in Nigeria would still be shared.
Consular services remain operational despite shutdown
Despite the scaled-back public communications, the Embassy assured that consular services remain unaffected for now.
It stated, “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.”
This means Nigerians seeking visas or other consular services should still be able to attend scheduled appointments. However, the Embassy warned that delays could occur if the funding standoff continues.
Global suspension of embassy communications
The communication freeze is not limited to Nigeria. U.S. Embassies around the world have issued similar notices. The U.S. Embassy in the United Kingdom posted,:
“We will not update this account until full operations resume, with the exception of urgent safety and security information.”
It reiterated that “scheduled passport and visa transit services in the United States and at U.S. Embassies and Consulates overseas will continue during the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits.”
Political gridlock in Washington sparks shutdown
The shutdown began on Wednesday after President Donald Trump and lawmakers failed to resolve a budget impasse, with Democrats demanding increased funding for healthcare. The breakdown in negotiations led to the suspension of operations across multiple federal departments and agencies.
Both Republicans and Democrats traded blame for the deadlock, which is expected to affect hundreds of thousands of government employees and millions of Americans who rely on federal services.
President Trump reportedly threatened to retaliate against Democratic priorities by initiating public sector job cuts, marking the first shutdown since his previous term. The U.S. government has experienced several shutdowns in recent decades, typically triggered by partisan disputes over spending.
How to properly use American visa
Legit.ng earlier reported that the United States Embassy in Nigeria issued a public advisory on the appropriate use of the U.S. B1/B2 visa, warning that misuse could lead to permanent visa ineligibility.
The statement, posted on the embassy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on 8 September, aimed to educate visa holders and applicants on the permitted activities under the B1/B2 category.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
