- No staff except security personnel were seen at the high commission
- The announcement entailed that no operations towards the High Commission’s provision of visa and immigration services for persons seeking to visit or emigrate to Canada
The Canadian High Commission in Abuja, on Tuesday suspended operations after a fire incident at the commission on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no staff except security personnel were seen at the high commission, situated at 13010G, Palm Close, Diplomatic Drive, in the Central Business District of Abuja.
The high commission had on its social media handle on X had announced a temporary suspension of its operations.
The high commission via the post announced a temporary suspension of its operation after a section of the commission in Abuja was gutted by fire.
The announcement entailed that no operations towards the High Commission’s provision of visa and immigration services for persons seeking to visit or emigrate to Canada.
Also, there is no offer of services to Canadians visiting and living in Nigeria and to Canadians in Equatorial Guinea, as well as Sao Tome and Principe.
Such services include adoption and surrogacy, birth abroad, citizenship services, marriage abroad, passport services, notarial services, studying abroad, and visa and immigration services.
A security operative at the duty post of the commission told NAN that no staff was available at the premises of the high commission, saying “Come tomorrow Wednesday, November 8.”
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the incident that occurred at the Canadian High Commission earlier on Monday.
The President’s Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale, communicated the President’s empathy in a statement released on Monday.
The statement reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sympathises with the Canadian government, the diplomatic community, and all persons affected by a fire incident which occurred on Monday at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja.
“The President assures the Canadian authorities of the full support of the Nigerian government in the aid of diplomatic and local staff of the High Commission who were particularly affected by the incident.
“President Tinubu prays for the repose of the departed souls and wishes all injured persons a rapid and full recovery.”