1. RECENT UPDATES
The level of Travel Warning in this report has not changed.
Section 2 has been updated (recent attack, curfew hours).
See our Current Issues page for more information on flooding in Nigeria.
See our Current Issues page for information on Avian Influenza.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) continues to monitor reports of poliovirus transmission in Nigeria.
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2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Nigeria(IDW10)
OFFICIAL WARNING: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against non-essential travel to Nigeria.
You should always maintain a high level of security awareness and inquire about local conditions when travelling in the country. Avoid large crowds and demonstrations; and follow local news reports.
Regional Warning(IDW11)
OFFICIAL WARNING: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against all travel to the Niger River Delta region, specifically the states of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers, where foreign nationals are at risk of abduction and attack. Canadians currently in the Niger Delta should consider departing from the region. A key militant group that has been operating in the Niger Delta has claimed responsibility for two recent attacks on oil companies operating in Bayelsa and Rivers State. An offshore oil terminal was also recently attacked in Akwa Ibom State. More attacks and kidnappings could be imminent. There is a heightened risk of attacks on oil facilities and of kidnappings.
Several western nations have advised their nationals to leave the Niger River Delta states of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers. All Canadians in the region must be aware that there may be constraints on government resources which can limit the ability of the High Commission of Canada to provide assistance, particularly in this volatile area of the country.
The security situation in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has stabilized somewhat, due to the presence of the large military Joint Task Force (JTF). The JTF will perform regular patrols of the streets and has set up several checkpoints throughout the city. This military presence is expected to remain in place until early 2008, and possibly longer. However, this restoration of order remains fragile and the potential for violent outbreaks still exists. During the week of August 6-12, 2007, significant violence broke out, during which time armed gangs were seen openly fighting in Port Harcourt with many civilian casualties. A city-wide curfew is currently in effect in Port Harcourt from 24:00 to 06:00.
The Port Harcourt International Airport is currently closed, although some commercial carriers are operating scheduled flights from the Port Harcourt Air Force Base. Highway checkpoints, including on the highway between the Owerri airport and Port Harcourt are frequent and abuse by some law enforcement officers, armed gangs, and others to extort bribes is common.
OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad.
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3. SAFETY AND SECURITY
It is the responsibility of individual travellers to make informed travel choices. The Government of Canada takes very seriously the safety and security of Canadians abroad and provides credible and timely advice in its Country Travel Reports. Situations vary from country to country, and there may be constraints on government resources, which can limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide assistance, particularly in countries where the potential for violent conflict or political instability are high. In the event of a crisis situation that requires evacuation, the Government of Canada’s policy is to provide safe transportation to the closest safe location. Canada will assist Canadians in leaving a country as a last resort, when all means of commercial or personal transportation have been exhausted. This service is provided on a cost-recovery basis. Onward travel is at the individual’s personal expense.
The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.
Canadians residing in or traveling to Lagos, Nigeria, are advised that criminal activity has increased dramatically on Victoria and Ikoyi Islands, with the influx of expatriate oil industry staff that is relocating from the Delta states. There are frequent robberies conducted by large well armed gangs, at hotels and restaurants patronized by the expatriate community.
Armed robbery, hostage taking and violent assault occur. These may be committed by persons posing as police or military personnel. Several incidents of armed robbery resulting in deaths have occurred at Ikeja domestic airport in Lagos. You should remain particularly cautious when undertaking road travel to and from all International Airports in Nigeria, regardless of the time of day. Attacks and armed robberies have occurred, including on Bill Clinton Dr. near Abuja International Airport. As these areas tend to be scarcely monitored by local authorities, ensure you are accompanied by an escort vehicle with police when arriving to or leaving from an airport.
House robberies are common in the expatriate areas of Lagos and are on the rise in Abuja. Theft from hotel rooms can also occur. Personal belongings, travel documents and original identification documents should be stored in hotel safes. Carry photocopies of passports, visas, and travel documents needed daily at all times. Avoid carrying large sums of money. You should visit beaches only in large groups and during daylight hours, particularly those in the vicinity of Victoria Island (Lekki and Bar Beaches).
Tourist facilities are limited in Nigeria. The country experiences regular fuel shortages; Canadians should regularly monitor local media sources for indicators of the circumstances that precede fuel shortages and ensure they have adequate supplies on hand.
Canadians intending to conduct business in Nigeria or with Nigerians should be aware of the high rate of commercial fraud. Further details are available in section 12 of this report. Canadians are reminded never to accept, under any circumstances, requests to carry envelopes or small parcels into Nigeria.
When travelling to Nigeria, you should inform your relatives in Canada before you leave that scams in which fraudulent calls are made to relatives in Canada from alleged hospitals/doctors in Nigeria, are frequently committed. Typically, relatives in Canada are advised that their travelling relative is in hospital in Nigeria and that money is required for medical treatment. It is recommended that relatives in Canada verify that calls of this nature are genuine before any money is transferred.
Canadians should be aware of other scams that are being conducted frequently via the Internet. These involve a Canadian “target” (victim) and a Nigerian scammer meeting via a chat room or online network and forming a cyber-romance relationship. The person in Nigeria expresses intentions to come to Canada, pretends to have applied or been granted a visa to do so or feigns to be a Canadian (male or female) who is stuck in Nigeria due to unfortunate circumstances. For example, the scammer pretends to have been robbed, that he/she had a serious accident, or that he/she is being held against his/her will. In all cases, the scammer claims that he/she has no relative or friend to turn to and asks for funds for different reasons, such as the need to pay hotel bills, hospital services, visas and/or airfare. Fake names, pictures, and contact details are used and copies of fraudulent passports and identification documents are sometimes sent to the victim. The funds are usually requested to be sent via Western Union, often not to the name of the person with whom the Canadian has been corresponding. These scams last as long as the victim continues to send money. Canadians should exercise care when corresponding with a person they have never physically met and should never share personal information such as banking and credit card details.
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4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS
The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Nigerian authorities and, to the best of our knowledge, was valid on October 13, 2006. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change.
It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.
Foreign Affairs Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements.
A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Nigeria. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country. Canadians must also be in possession of a visa.
Tourist/Visitor/Transit Visa: Required
Business Visa: Required
Student Visa: Required
Employment Visa: Required
Temporary Work Permit: Required
Travellers are required to carry evidence of yellow fever vaccination if they are arriving from infected areas.
A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada.
Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.
Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.
Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.
Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada.
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5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS
A Canadian warden system is in operation. Please contact the Canadian High Commission in Abuja or the Canadian Deputy High Commission in Lagos (see below) for details on the warden in the area you will be visiting.You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address:
Nigeria - ABUJA, High Commission of Canada
Address: 15 Bobo Street, Maitama, Abuja
Tel.: 234 (9) 413-9910
Fax: 234 (9) 413-9932
E-Mail: abuja@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.nigeria.gc.ca
Nigeria - LAGOS, Deputy High Commission of Canada
Address: 4 Anifowoshe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Tel.: 234 (1) 262-2512, 262-2513 or 262-2515
Fax: 234 (1) 262-2517
E-Mail: lagos@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.nigeria.gc.ca
Nigeria - PORT HARCOURT, Consulate of Canada
Address: 15, Ahoada Street, Rumuibekwe Housing Estate, Port Harcourt
Tel.: 234 (8) 461-0434; 461-1601
Fax: 234 (8) 461-0899
E-Mail: phconsul2004@yahoo.com
For emergency assistance after hours, call the High Commission of Canada in Abuja. You may also call Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Ottawa at 613-996-8885.
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6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail or death sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. However, Canada and Nigeria are signatories to the Commonwealth Scheme for the Transfer of Convicted Offenders, which enables a Canadian imprisoned in Nigeria to request to be transferred to Canada to complete the sentence in a Canadian prison. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Nigerian authorities.
Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.
The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare.
Canadians should be wary of Internet romances. Marrying a Canadian citizen does not automatically bestow Canadian citizenship on the new spouse. The process is long and costly, and travel documents for the waiting spouse will not be issued while the file is under review. For additional information, consult Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
In the Northern region of Nigeria, Islamic practices and beliefs are closely adhered to in the country’s customs, laws, and regulations. Sharia law has been adopted in twelve Northern States, namely Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara. Common sense and discretion should be exercised in behaviour and visitors should dress conservatively. It is recommended that, in the north, women keep their legs covered and travel with a scarf which can be used to cover their head and arms, when required. Cross-dressing is prohibited and punishable under the Prostitution and Immoral Acts law. Respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities. The use of drugs and alcohol is prohibited. The Sharia penal code may be applicable to non-Muslims in some parts of the country. Transgressions could be punished by detention or other penalties.
Homosexuality is illegal.
It is illegal to import beer, mineral water, soft drinks, sparkling wine, fruits, vegetables, cereals, eggs, textile fabrics, mosquito netting, jewellery, and precious metals. It is illegal to export pieces of African art, particularly antiques, without written authorization from the Department of Antiquities. You should contact the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Ottawa (see below) for specific information regarding customs requirements.
Smoking in public is illegal.
Photography of airports, government buildings and military installations may lead to arrest.
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7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY
Public transportation is unsafe and dangerous due to poorly maintained vehicles and the risk of petty theft. Cases exist where passengers in taxis have been driven to secluded areas where they have been attacked and robbed. As of August 2, 2005, unmarried men and women are no longer allowed to ride together on public transportation in Kano state in northern Nigeria. This applies to buses, taxi motorcycles, and taxi cars.
Overland travel between cities is not recommended after dark. Road travel can be dangerous due to robberies and carjackings which sometimes include physical violence. Many strategies may be used to stop cars on the road. Nails can be scattered on the road, or individuals, including pregnant women, may pretend to be injured. Carjackings have occurred on Ikoyi and Victoria Islands in Lagos, as well as in Abuja. There have been reports of attempted armed robbery on the Warri-Port Harcourt road, on the Jos-Bauchi road, on the Maiduguri-Gombe road, and on the road from Lagos to the border with Benin. Road checks are frequent, may worsen traffic congestion and may be intimidating to foreigners.
Traffic congestion on the road to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos may put travellers at risk because armed attacks have occurred on this road. You should arrange to arrive during the day and be met at the airport by reliable contacts. If transportation is not arranged by hosts, you should hire cars and drivers with local knowledge from reputable companies, if at all possible, prior to arrival. Rental cars (self-drive) are not available in Nigeria. When arranging the hire of a car and driver, be sure to agree on a price and all details prior to accepting.
Across Nigeria, roads are generally in poor condition and lack adequate lighting. Excessive speeds, unpredictable driving habits, and the lack of basic maintenance and safety equipment on many vehicles pose hazards. As roadside assistance is not available, you should carry a mobile phone. Road travel may be disrupted due to chronic fuel shortages. In the event of an accident and when possible, do not stay at the scene or leave your vehicle to enter into a discussion with onlookers or others involved. If the vehicle is disabled, remain in the vehicle and contact help with a mobile phone. Proceed to the nearest police station and contact the Canadian government office in Abuja or Lagos (see section 7 below).
Some airlines, particularly those of Nigerian registry, may not maintain their aircraft to international standards. In light of recent crashes, sometimes fatal, Canadians should carefully evaluate implications for their security and safety before deciding to undertake domestic air travel.
During the dry season, the Harmattan winds lead to high amounts of sand and dust in the air. Air travel within Nigeria can sometimes be restricted due to limited visibility. Occasionally, flights must be rerouted from their original destinations.
Pirate attacks and armed robbery against ships occur in coastal waters. Mariners should take appropriate precautions. For additional information, see the Weekly Piracy Report published by the International Maritime Bureau.
The economy of Nigeria is cash-based. The currency is the naira (NGN). U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Credit cards are accepted at some major hotels in Lagos and Abuja, however you are strongly advised against the use of credit cards and debit cards due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. Traveller's cheques may be difficult to cash outside Lagos and Abuja. The exportation of naira is limited to certain amounts by law.
Canadian currency and traveller's cheques are not widely accepted worldwide. Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine (ABM) services in other countries. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ABMs around the world. Your bank can advise if you need a new personal identification number (PIN) for overseas access to your account. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. ABMs should be used during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.
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8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE
The rainy season extends from May to October. Roads may become impassable during this period. In summer, northern Nigeria periodically experiences heat waves. During the dry season, the Harmattan winds lead to high amounts of sand and dust in the air. You should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly.
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9. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM
The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site.
The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to closely monitor and report on occurrences of avian influenza A (H5N1), or "bird flu", in humans and in birds. Further information on avian influenza A (H5N1) and recommendations for travellers can be found on the Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Medicine Web site as well as on the World Health Organization's Web site. For more information, see our Current Issues on Avian Influenza.
The Public Health Agency of Canada is following the incidence of meningitis in and around the African meningitis belt. This belt extends from Guinea to Senegal in the west to Ethiopia and western Eritrea in the east. Epidemics most often occur during the dry season (December to June) in this region. Since the mid-1990s, meningitis has occurred on an unprecedented scale and has spread beyond the usual boundaries. Additional information and health recommendations concerning meningitis can be obtained through the Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Medicine Web site.
The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.
Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.
The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.
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10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
Medical facilities are basic and limited outside major centres. Due to the high incidence of fake medications, prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, Canadians should not purchase drugs in Nigeria unless from a well-known, reputable clinic. You are strongly encouraged to bring all basic medications and prescription drugs with you, in their original containers.
Leprosy is a chronic contagious bacterial disease still prevalent in Nigeria.
During the dry season, with the Harmattan winds, there are high amounts of sand and dust in the air. Persons with chronic asthma or breathing problems should also take this into consideration if travelling to Nigeria from November to February.
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11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Power shortages and low water pressure are common. Telecommunications are somewhat unreliable. There are a significant number of mobile phone companies in Nigeria and it is the preferred method of telecommunications due to the unreliability of the government-owned telecom company, NITEL.
Returning to Canada
Traveller's Checklist
Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. See Canada's Health Portal.
Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.
Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.
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12. ANNEX
TIPS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELLERS TO NIGERIA
Recognizing a Business Scam
The Canadian High Commission, along with many other embassies in Nigeria, frequently handles scam cases. Business people, many of them experienced in overseas transactions, have lost thousands of dollars to scams. Occasionally, persons who have gone to Nigeria to "finalize" deals have been threatened or assaulted. Local police and other officials have not provided assistance to those caught up in scams.
Caution should be exercised when contemplating any business transaction involving Nigeria. The scams range from attempts to engage business people in fictitious money transfer schemes to fraudulent solicitations to supply goods in fulfillment of non-existent Nigerian government contracts. The scams are very sophisticated and may take victims to staged meetings, often held in borrowed offices at Nigerian government ministries or at overseas locations. The persons involved do their research and can often provide plausible, but non-existent, orders written on seemingly genuine government stationery, replete with official stamps and seals.
Nigerian business scams are not always easy to recognize, and any unsolicited business proposal should be carefully scrutinized. There are, nevertheless, some indicators that are warnings of a probable scam. Look out for:
Any offer of a substantial percentage of a large sum of money to be transferred into your account in return for your "discretion" or "confidentiality";
Any deal that seems too good to be true;
Requests for signed and stamped blank letterhead or invoices or for bank account information;
Requests for urgent air shipment, accompanied by an instrument of payment whose genuineness cannot immediately be established;
Solicitation letters or e-mails claiming that the soliciting party has personal ties to senior Nigerian officials;
Requests for advance payment in U.S. dollars, in advance of transfer taxes or incorporation fees;
Statements that your name was provided to the soliciting party either by someone you do not know or by a "reliable contact";
Promises of advance payment for services to be provided to the Nigerian government;
Claims that a Nigerian visa is not necessary or that arrival in Nigeria should be overland from a neighbouring country;
Resistance by Nigerian partners to your checking in with the local Canadian government office;
Any offer to supply oil; and
Any offer of a charitable donation.
These indicators are some of the most common hallmarks of Nigerian scam operations. The list is not all-inclusive, as scam operators are constantly weaving new elements into their schemes. The best rule is to carefully check any unsolicited business proposal originating from Nigeria or involving Nigerians before any funds are committed, before any goods or services are provided, or before any travel is undertaken.
How Do the Scams Work?
Nigerian business scams are confidence schemes, designed to exploit the trust you develop in your Nigerian partner and defraud you of goods, services, or money. The scams are flexible, and operators adapt them to take the greatest advantage of the target.
Solicitation letters or e-mails received in Canada may sometimes originate in countries neighbouring Nigeria (i.e. Benin or Côte d'Ivoire), in Europe, or in North America; however, you may be requested to visit Nigeria to finalize the deal.
Here is a brief description of some of the most common schemes:
Money Transfer: The operator claims to have a large sum of money, usually millions of dollars, that needs to be transferred to a "safe" bank account abroad. The Central Bank of Nigeria is often, though by no means always, mentioned. You, as the bank account owner, are promised a percentage of the huge sum, just for allowing the use of your account. You may be asked to provide blank, signed invoices, letterhead, and bank account information, or to send money for transfer taxes. Some businesses have found their accounts looted by the persons to whom they sent account information.
Fraudulent Order: The operator usually places a small order, paying with a genuine cashier's cheque drawn on a foreign bank. The operator then places another, somewhat larger order, again paying with a genuine instrument. Then you receive an order by courier. Your Nigerian partner urgently needs a large quantity of your product air-shipped. Confident in your partner, you ship, but this time the cashier's cheque (which looks the same) is a forgery.
Experienced business people usually require full payment in advance of shipment or an irrevocable letter of credit confirmed by a reputable international bank.
Charitable Donation: The operator offers to make a donation to your organization, asking for bank account information (see Money Transfer, above). Then the operator loots the account or asks for advance payment of a fee to ensure conversion of naira into dollars.
Contract: The operator claims to have a Nigerian government contract and needs your company's expertise to carry out the job. The operator scams you by collecting thousands of dollars in "fees" before you can do business.
Crude Oil: The operator claims to have an allocation of crude oil to sell. Sometimes the operator claims to be working on behalf of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Then come demands for various fees to supply you with the crude; of course, you never get your cargo. Businesses lacking experience with Nigeria's petroleum industry should approach with great caution any proposal involving crude oil sales.
Business Opportunity: The operator convinces you to explore a business opportunity by visiting Nigeria. Once you arrive, the operator takes charge of your life, trying to keep you from contacting friends, family, or the Canadian government office in Lagos or Abuja. By various means, sometimes including violence or threats of violence, the operator extracts money from you. This type of scam becomes particularly dangerous for a victim who has entered Nigeria without a valid Nigerian visa, issued by a Nigerian High Commission, Embassy, or Consulate.
All travellers MUST have a visa prior to arrival in Nigeria and must pass through immigration formalities upon entry into the country. Letters addressed to immigration officials have no validity.
CONTACT INFORMATION
International Trade Canada
Africa and Middle East Trade Division
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0G2
Ask for the Commercial Officer responsible for Nigeria at 613-944-4000. If you already have a contact name, you can also fax your request at 613-996-9709.
High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
295 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, ON
K2P 1R9
Tel.: 613-236-0521
Fax: 613-236-0529
Commercial Crime Branch
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0R2
Tel.: 613-991-4331
Fax: 613-993-4299
PhoneBusters National Call Centre
P.O. Box 686
North Bay, ON
P1B 8J8
Tel.: 1 888 495-8501 or 705-495-8501
Fax: 1 888 654-9426 or 705-494-4755
Website: http://www.phonebusters.com/
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