Processing time for Canadian visas for Nigerians cut from 60 to 10 days

The Canadian High Commission has reduced the waiting period for visa applicants from 60 to 10 days.

A source at the High Commission told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja that the country was now opening up and accommodating more visitors and travellers from across the globe.

"Because of this, a lot of Nigerians are sending their children to study in Canada and this has led to a backlog in the number of visa applications.

"This informed the mission's decision to reduce the waiting period from 60 to 10 days," the source added.

Diplomatic sources told NAN that the Canadian government took the decision following persistent complaints by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru and the leadership of the National Assembly.

Ashiru, at various meetings with Heads of Diplomatic missions assured them of the readiness of Nigeria's diplomatic missions to undertake reciprocal treatment in the issuance of visas.

"Where visas are delivered promptly within three to five days, we shall reciprocate and where there is delay, we shall apply the same measure," he told them.

NAN recalled that late Dr Lateef Adegbite's visa application for his regular medical checkup was turned down by the mission.

The mission cited a new directive from Canada that all visa applications should be thoroughly screened irrespective of the status of the applicants.

Also, some members of the National Assembly were denied visas to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Conference which took place in September in Ottawa, Canada.

Canada and Nigeria, established diplomatic relations 50 years ago, and share a common commitment to freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

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Video - fireworks explosion rips through Lagos

An explosion at a fireworks warehouse has caused a huge fire in Nigeria's largest city, Lagos. At least one person died and around thirty were injured.

6 confirmed dead in fireworks explosion at Lagos

No fewer than 6 persons have died, and a dozen injured as fireworks explosion rocked Lagos Island on wednesday.

The incident which affected three buildings located at Okoya/Ojogiwa, Lagos Island, Lagos, occurred at about 8:00am.

It was gathered that trouble started when a locked-up shop under one of the three buildings stocked with fireworks popularly called 'bangers' suddenly exploded and went up in flames.

As a result of the explosion, it was learnt that the building which had d shop under it and two others adjoining collapsed.

Residents of the three buildings who were still celebrating the Christmas festivity mood but, were still on beds to witness the boxing day, were affected during the explosions.

6 persons, it was said, were feared dead and a dozen others injured.

A score other residents were said to be currently trapped in d debris of the collapsed three buildings.

As at press time, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), fire service, police, Nigerian Security Civil and Defence Corps (NSCDC) and others had visited the scene for rescue operations.

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Gunmen kill five in church attack on Christmas Eve

Gunmen on Christmas Eve attacked a church in Peri, Yobe State, killing at least five people, including the pastor, and setting the building on fire, residents and police confirmed yesterday.

No fewer than 20 houses were also allegedly burnt down in the attack.

Peri, near Potiskum, is the economic capital of Yobe State.

"A group of gunmen came into the village at midnight and went straight to the church. They opened fire on them (the worshippers) and then set fire to the church," said Usman Mansir, a resident of the village, according to Aljazeera online.

A senior police official in Yobe State also confirmed the incident to the AFP news agency, but declined to be named.

Yobe State Commissioner of Police Sanusi Rufa'i said the attack was "a security issue" and refused to comment further.

It was not clear who was behind the attack, but fighters belonging to the Boko Haram sect have carried out several attacks in the state and environs, which borders Maiduguri state where the activities of the group is most pronounced.

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Video - Christmas travelers forced to trek the Asaba-Onitisha expressway

As the yuletide season approaches commuters who travelled to the South Eastern part of Nigeria to join their families in celebrating this season are contending with heavy vehicular movements and poor state of the roads.

In this report, Channels Television's correspondents spoke with some commuters who recount their experiences on the road which is a major gateway to the southwest, including the Enugu-Onitsha Road, the Onitsha-Owerri Road, 9th Mile-Obollo Afor Road, as well as the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.