Canada Suspends Visa Operations in Abuja, Prompting Lamentations from Nigerians
Nigerians Express Dismay as Canadian Embassy in Nigeria Halts Operations
The suspension of the Canadian embassy’s operations in Nigeria has left many Nigerians disheartened. This move appears to be linked to a recent fire incident at the embassy that tragically claimed the lives of two individuals.
Late on Monday night, the Canadian High Commission, through its official channels, announced a temporary suspension of its activities. This suspension encompasses visa and immigration services, affecting those looking to visit or relocate to Canada.
Furthermore, Canadians residing in Nigeria, as well as those in Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, will not receive embassy services during this period.
The embassy’s statement reads, “The High Commission of Canada to #Nigeria, in #Abuja, has temporarily suspended operations until further notice.”
In a related development, the Government of Canada issued a travel advisory on Monday, cautioning its citizens against non-essential travel to Nigeria, including Abuja. This advisory stems from the volatile security situation in the country, which poses a significant risk of terrorism, crime, inter-communal conflicts, armed attacks, and kidnappings.
Canada specifically advised its citizens to steer clear of regions including 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. The exception is the capital city of Rivers, Port Harcourt, where non-essential travel is also discouraged due to the ongoing risks of terrorism, armed attacks, kidnapping, inter-communal disputes, and sectarian violence.
Efforts to reach an official at the Canadian High Commission, Demilade Kosemani, for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls or respond to text messages from our reporter.
