"Don't Panic:" Canada Speaks on Visa Applications in Nigeria After Fire Guts Abuja Office
- The High Commission of Canada has stated that its visa processing centres in Abuja will remain open
- The statement followed concerns from Nigerians seeking visa to the country over the fate of their applications
- The High Commission said it will continue to process visas in its Lagos and Abuja offices
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The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has said its Abuja and Lagos visa application centres are still open for processing immigration, refugee, and citizenship applications.
The commission earlier suspended operations in its Abuja office following a fire outbreak on Monday, November 6, 2023.
Nigerians expressed mixed reactions about the future of visa applications to Canada after the fire incident.
But reacting to the concerns, Canada said its visa application centres in Abuja and Lagos will operate unhindered.
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High Commission of Canada to continue visa processing
In a statement on its X handle on Thursday, November 9, 2023, the Canadian High Commission clarified several narratives around its operation after the fire outbreak.
Its public affairs officer, Demilade Kosemani, said as the commission continues to grieve over the demise of their colleagues, its visa processing centres in Abuja and Lagos will remain open.
The statement reads:
"Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada clients: processing of applications continues. Regardless of suspending operations at the High Commission of Canada in Abuja, the Visa Application Centres in Abuja and Lagos remain open."
Legit.ng earlier reported how fire gutted the Canadian Embassy building situated at 13010G, Palm Close, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District in Abuja.
Confirming the incident, the head of operations of the FCT Fire Service, Abiola Adebayo, told The Punch via a phone interview that two people were fatally injured.
He also said about three or four other victims had been rushed to the hospitals.
The cause of the fire at Canada's High Commission was not clear at the time.
Canada introduces technology to improve work permit applications for Nigerians, others
Legit.ng also reported that Canada recently increased its use of automation technologies to speedily process Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) and work permit extensions
The new automated technologies will be utilised to help process work permit extensions and PGWP applications of their complexity.
A work permit is a legal document that formally grants permission for an individual to look for employment, secure employment, and generate revenue in a foreign nation.
Source: Legit.ng
