US embassy announces suspension of updates on its official X account

Sunday, February 1, 2026 - The United States Mission in Nigeria on Saturday, January 31, announced a temporary suspension of regular updates on its official X account, citing a lapse in government appropriations.

“Due to the lapse in appropriations, this account will not be updated regularly until full operations resume, with the exception of urgent safety and security information,” the mission stated on its X handle.

It, however, assured the public that passport and visa services would continue, depending on circumstances. “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. We will not update this account until full operations resume, with the exception of urgent safety and security information,” it added.

The announcement came as the United States entered a partial government shutdown on Saturday after a midnight funding deadline passed without United States Congress approving a 2026 budget. Disruption was expected to be limited, with the House set to move early next week to ratify a Senate-backed deal.

The funding lapse followed a breakdown in negotiations, driven by Democratic anger over the killing of two protesters in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents, which derailed talks over additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“Instead of going after drug smugglers, child predators, and human traffickers, the Trump Administration is wasting valuable resources targeting peaceful protestors in Chicago and Minneapolis,” Senate Democratic Minority Whip Dick Durbin wrote on social media. “This Administration continues to make Americans less safe,” he added.

Officials said roughly three-quarters of federal operations could be affected, potentially triggering shutdown procedures across a broad range of agencies, including education, health, housing, and defence.

Federal departments were expected to begin implementing shutdown plans overnight, though congressional leaders from both parties said the Senate’s action made a brief disruption more likely than a prolonged stalemate.

If the House approves the funding package early next week as expected, government funding would be restored within days, limiting the impact on services, contractors, and federal workers. However, if the shutdown extends beyond a few days, tens of thousands of federal employees could face unpaid leave or be required to work without pay until funding is restored.