By Ebi Kesiena
Canada has advised its citizens and residents to avoid non-essential travel to Nigeria, citing security threats, including terrorism, kidnapping, crime and armed attacks.
The warning was contained in an updated travel advisory issued by the Canadian government, recently.
According to the advisory, the security situation across Nigeria, including Abuja, remains unpredictable, prompting the Canadian authorities to urge travellers to exercise caution.
The Canadian government said the advisory was prompted by the significant risks of terrorism, crime, inter-communal clashes, armed attacks and kidnapping across the country. It also specifically included Abuja in the non-essential travel warning.
However, the advisory excluded Lagos and Calabar, where Canadian citizens and residents were advised to exercise a high degree of caution because of security concerns.
The Canadian authorities also warned travellers about the dangers of consuming unregulated and adulterated alcoholic drinks containing high levels of methanol.
“Casualties have occurred due to the consumption of unregulated and adulterated alcohol containing high levels of methanol,” the advisory stated.
The warning followed an outbreak in Ondo State, where 48 people reportedly died and 182 cases of illness were recorded after the consumption of locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions suspected to contain methanol. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) linked the deaths to high concentrations of the toxic substance in samples of the drinks.
Methanol poisoning can cause serious health complications, including blindness, organ failure and death.
As a precaution, the Canadian government advised travellers to purchase alcohol only from reputable establishments and seek immediate medical attention if they begin to feel unwell after consuming alcoholic drinks
