Kehinde Fajobi
The U.S. mission in Nigeria announced it would close its operations on Thursday, January 9, to honour the passing of former President Jimmy Carter.
In a statement shared on its official X handle, the mission stated, “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Thursday, January 9, in honour of former President Carter’s passing.
“We remember former President Jimmy Carter, a tireless advocate for peace, democracy, and human rights.”
Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981.
After leaving office, he was celebrated globally for his humanitarian efforts, earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
On Tuesday, his body was transported to the U.S. Capitol in a grand military ceremony. There, Carter’s flag-draped casket lies in state in the Capitol rotunda, where the public has been paying their respects ahead of a national funeral later this week.
The funeral procession retraced the route of Carter’s inauguration parade, with the casket carried from the U.S. Navy Memorial—honouring his military service—up to Capitol Hill.