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By Kabir Abdulsalam
Nigerians on social media have reacted to the fire that broke out at the Canadian embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, on Monday, November 7, 2023, as well as the security advisory alert released by the embassy following the incident.
The embassy has issued a travel advisory, warning against non-essential travel to Nigeria, including Abuja, “due to the unpredictable security situation throughout the country and a significant risk of crime, inter-communal clashes, armed attacks and kidnapping.”
The Canadian High Commission in Abuja has also temporarily suspended operations, although the embassy has not stated that the fire is the reason for the suspension.
The MeridianSpy reported 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.
Nigerians on social media have expressed concerns about the fire and the security advisory, with some calling on the Nigerian government to do more to improve security in the country.
Some of their reactions below:
@keiskwerd: “Nigeria sha. Canada would only release this kind of inciting vague tweet becuase it’s Nigeria! Why would she not state what it was? A tanker explosion! Why a travel advisory and camouflaging it with rubbish unrest!? The lives that are lost would likely be poor men like tanker driver/ security man etc with likely no life insurance but here you are tweeting out something that you know the world would interpret to mean an attack was directed at the embassy! @officialasiwajubat and Co (your woman Abike has removed her @) you better get this Canadian lady to tweet right cos this affects how the country is looked on! They can shut their embassy for all I care, but don’t tweet rubbish! Before you know others would attempt to do travel advisory based on presumed attack! Gunshots everyday.”
@nigeriacanadacommunity: “Did Nigeria issue this same travel advisory when police officer was killed on the capitol hill in Ottawa? Or there’s No explosion incidence in Orleans recently?”
@f_u_n_o_m: “I don’t understand, fires don’t happen in Canada? Why are they making it look like it was an intentional attack when they have not even investigated the cause of the fire yet. What sort of nonsense see finish is this?”
