Nigeria has strongly criticized Canada for refusing to grant visas to senior military officers, including Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa. The denial left half of his delegation unable to attend an official event in Canada scheduled for Wednesday.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo expressed outrage, calling the decision by Canadian authorities “disrespectful” to Nigeria. The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria acknowledged the situation but declined to provide further details, citing privacy concerns regarding the individuals involved.
The controversy comes just two weeks after Canada introduced new immigration regulations granting officials greater authority to cancel temporary resident visas under specific conditions. Canadian authorities have defended the changes as necessary for border security and maintaining the integrity of their visa programs.
General Musa, speaking on Thursday, revealed that his delegation had been invited to Canada to participate in an event honoring war veterans. However, only half of the officials received visas, while the others were denied entry.
“We were invited along with our team, but while half of us got visas, the other half was denied. It’s very disappointing,” Musa stated. He described the experience as a “wake-up call” for Nigeria, emphasizing the need for the country to assert its sovereignty and prevent being “taken for granted” on the international stage.
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National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu did not mince words in his criticism, describing the visa denial as deeply insulting. “Canada can go to hell,” he declared, adding that the incident underscored the urgency of strengthening Nigeria’s domestic affairs to prevent reliance on external powers.
During a television interview on Friday, Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo warned that if such treatment could be meted out to Nigeria’s highest-ranking military officer, ordinary Nigerians could face even greater hurdles.
“If that can happen to the Chief of Defence Staff, then I am worried for the average Nigerian,” he said. However, he remained optimistic that diplomatic discussions could resolve the issue and restore mutual respect between both nations.
While Nigeria pushes for answers, the incident has reignited debates on global diplomatic relations and the treatment of African nations in international engagements.
