Nigeria has been plagued by security problems for many years. In this regard, the Canadian Embassy in the Nigerian capital decided to suspend its activities.
"The High Commission of Canada to Nigeria, in Abuja, has temporarily suspended operations until further notice. For consular assistance, contact our 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Center," the Canadian Embassy said in a post on Monday.
Canadians are strongly advised against non-essential travel to Nigeria, including in Abuja, due to the country's unstable security conditions marked by a significant risk of terrorism, crime, intercommunal conflicts, armed attacks and kidnappings, the embassy said.
Canadians already in Nigeria are strongly urged to avoid all travel to the north-western states of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara; the north-central states of Plateau and Kogi; and the north-eastern states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa and Yobe, the embassy said.
Travel to the Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers is also discouraged due to the elevated risks of terrorism, armed attacks, kidnapping, intercommunal and sectarian violence, the embassy added.