US Mission in Nigeria Temporarily Closes to Honor Late President Jimmy Carter

The United States mission in Nigeria announced the closure of its embassy in Abuja and consulate in Lagos on Thursday, January 9, to honour the late former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100.

In a statement on its official X handle, the US mission highlighted Carter’s contributions as a “tireless advocate for peace, democracy, and human rights.”

Carter, who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981, was highly regarded for his humanitarian efforts, earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

The late president’s body, transferred from his home state of Georgia in a grand military ceremony, arrived at the snow-covered US Capitol earlier in the week.

His flag-draped casket, flown aboard a presidential US Air Force jet, was carried in a funeral procession from the US Navy Memorial to Capitol Hill—a poignant reversal of his inaugural parade route.

Thousands of mourners paid their respects at the Capitol’s rotunda, where his body lay in state ahead of a national funeral set for later in the week.

This solemn event underscored Carter’s enduring legacy as a champion of human rights and global peace.

Carter’s passing has elicited tributes from world leaders, including Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who lauded his efforts in fostering international diplomacy and humanitarian initiatives.