"We can confirm there was an explosion at our High Commission in Nigeria.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's spokesperson said that there were deaths and injuries in a fire on Monday at the High Commission of Canada but did not give any figures.
Canada's High Commission in Nigeria, without commenting on the explosion, said on social media that it had "temporarily suspended operations until further notice."
The embassy issued a travel advisory, warning against non-essential travel to Nigeria, including capital Abuja, "due to the unpredictable security situation throughout the country and the significant risk of terrorism, crime, inter-communal clashes, armed attacks and kidnappings."
Western countries routinely issue warning about travelling to Nigeria, which the Abuja government often dismisses as lacking merit.
Persons:
Melanie Joly, " Joly, Bola Tinubu's, Tinubu, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Ismail Shakil, Cynthia Osterman, Sandra Maler
Organizations:
Ottawa, Washington, Commission, High Commission of, Thomson
Locations:
LAGOS, Canada, Nigeria, London, West African, High Commission of Canada, Canada's, Abuja, United States, Britain, Nigeria's, Lagos, Ottawa