Canada speaks out on Visa denial to Nigeria’s chief of defence staff
The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has responded to remarks made by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, regarding the alleged denial of visas to him and other top military officers by the Canadian embassy.
According to reports, General Musa and other senior military officials were scheduled to travel to Canada on Wednesday but were denied visas the day before.
Musa recounted the disappointing experience on Thursday while delivering a lecture at the maiden event of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja.
“Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday (Wednesday), I was supposed to be in Canada for an event honoring our veterans, particularly those injured in battle, but we were denied visas,” he stated.
The visa denial sparked strong reactions, including criticism from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, who bluntly declared that Canada “can go to hell” for the decision. Similarly, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, condemned the move as an act of disrespect toward Nigeria.
However, in a brief statement posted on its official X handle on Friday, the Canadian High Commission stated that, for privacy reasons, it would not comment on the visa applications of the individuals involved.
“The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is aware of media reports related to planned travel to Canada by senior officials.
“However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to provide any comment on the status of visa applications of specific individuals,” it read.
