The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria says it is aware of media reports concerning the visa denials of senior Nigerian military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
The reaction of the visa denial to the military chiefs was contained in a statement issued by the Commission in Nigeria on Friday.
Recall that General Musa, while speaking at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies, shared that he and some members of his team were denied visas to attend an event to honour war veterans in Canada.
Musa expressed his disappointment over the incident, describing it as a “wake-up call” for Nigeria to strengthen its sovereignty and stand firm on its own.
“This is a reminder that we must stand on our own, stand strong as a nation, and refuse to be taken for granted,” he said.
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Reacting to the development as a guest on a Channels Television programme: “Sunrise Daily,” on Friday, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, condemned the embassy’s decision, calling it disrespectful to Nigeria as a nation.
The minister questioned how an average Nigerian would be treated by the Canadian embassy if even the country’s top military officer faced such treatment.
Relatedly, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu also weighed in on the issue, offering his support for the Chief of Defence Staff’s public statement.
Ribadu berated Canada’s actions, expressing his frustration at the same event where General Musa shared his experience.
He said Canada could “go to hell,” adding that this is another reason Nigerian leaders must make the country better.
“Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell,” Ribadu said.
“Even though it’s painful, it’s disrespectful, but we are peaceful and strong and I agree with you that it is time to fix our country. Yet, this is another reason we work hard to make Nigeria work.”
In response, the Canadian High Commission acknowledged the media reports, but refrained from commenting on the specifics of the visa applications, citing privacy concerns.
The Commission confirmed its awareness of the situation but reiterated that it could not disclose details about the status of individual visa applications.
It said: “The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is aware of media reports related to planned travel by senior officials.
“However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to comment on the status of visa applications of specific individuals.”
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