Canadian embassy suspends Abuja operations after fire incident; Warn citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Nigeria

As a result of the fire incident that claimed two lives at the Canadian embassy in Abuja on Monday, November 6, 2023, the commission has suspended its operations in the Federal Capital Territory.

The statement by the embassy read, “The High Commission of Canada to #Nigeria, in #Abuja, has temporarily suspended operations until further notice.”

This implies a suspension of service for Nigerians seeking to travel to Canada but Canadians visiting and living in Nigeria as well as Canadians in Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe in need of consular assistance are advised to contact Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

The statement read, “An explosion took place in a generator room at the High Commission of Canada to Nigeria in Abuja today, killing two people, including a locally engaged employee, and injuring two others. Global Affairs Canada extends its sympathies to the families of those killed and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.

“We can confirm all other staff at the High Commission are safe and unharmed. We are now ensuring that the site is safe and will work with local authorities in determining the cause of the explosion.

“An investigation will be carried out, but at this point everything points to an accident rather than a deliberate act. As a result of the incident, the High Commission of Canada in Abuja is closed until further notice.

“Canadians in need of consular assistance can contact Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre.”

The Government of Canada has also warned its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Nigeria, including Abuja.

The Government of Canada, on Monday, issued a travel advisory via its website, warning its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Nigeria, including Abuja, “due to the unpredictable security situation throughout the country and the significant risk of terrorism, crime, inter-communal clashes, armed attacks and kidnappings.”

The travel advisory came a few days after the United States issued a similar warning to Americans in Nigeria.

Specifically, Canada warned its citizens to avoid Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Plateau, Kogi, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Yobe and the Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers “with the exception of Rivers’ capital city, Port Harcourt, where we advise against non-essential travel, due to the risk of terrorism, armed attacks, kidnapping, inter-communal and sectarian violence.”

Meanwhile, Nigerians have lamented the suspension of operation by the Canadian embassy in Nigeria.