Nigerians Lament As Canadian Embassy Suspends Abuja Office Operations

Canadian Embassy Abuja Office

Following the fire that destroyed her embassy in Nigeria, the Canadian High Commission has suspended operations there

According to reports, the Canadian High Commission to Nigeria in Abuja declared on Monday that it has halted activities in Nigeria until further notice and issued a warning against non-essential travel to the nation.

The embassy sent a travel alert, advising against visiting Nigeria, especially Abuja, unless absolutely necessary.

The official website of the Canadian government provided information regarding the travel alert and the temporary closure of the Canadian embassy in Nigeria.

A fire outbreak occurred on Monday at the Canada High Commission in Abuja that killed two people and injured two more, while this was not the official reason given for the suspension of activities in Nigeria.

According to reports, the embassy's generator house experienced an explosion of a fuel tank, which was the cause of the fire spread, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Melanie Joly, the foreign minister of Canada, responded to the incident on X (previously Twitter) using her official handle, saying, "We can confirm there was an explosion at our High Commission in Nigeria. The fire is out and we are working to shed light on what caused this situation. I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the 2 people killed in this tragedy."