Canadian Team Arrives In Nigeria To Investigate Deadly Explosion At High Commission In Abuja

A team of technical experts from Canada has arrived in Abuja to conduct a formal investigation to determine the factors and conditions that led to the recent explosion that occurred at the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria.

The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria, situated at 13010G, Palm Close, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District in Abuja was gutted by fire on November 6, 2023.

The spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Nkechi Isa, in a terse statement, had said that a diesel tank explosion was responsible for the fire which gutted a section of the diplomatic building.

Isa said the diesel tank exploded in the generator house of the High Commission, just as two MIKANO generators were being serviced by a five-man team from JMD company.

The fire incident claimed the lives of two people and left two others injured.

The commission suspended its operations following the fire incident except for the visa application centres which remained open in Abuja and Lagos.

However, a Public Affairs staff member of the commission, Demilade Kosemani, in a statement sent to The PUNCH on Tuesday announced the arrival of the team of technical experts from Canada.

He explained that the investigation team would work with relevant Nigerian authorities to conduct a formal investigation to determine the factors and conditions that led to the explosion.

He said, “Following an explosion in the generator room at the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria on November 6 that claimed two lives and left two others injured, a team of technical experts from Canada arrived in Abuja to conduct a formal investigation to determine the factors and conditions that led to the explosion.”

“Efforts are being undertaken to coordinate the work of the Canadian investigation team with the relevant Nigerian authorities in line with their respective mandates,” the statement added.