Canada Remains Tight-Lipped on Visa Denial of Nigerian Military Chiefs

The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has declined to comment on the visa denial of senior Nigerian military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.

The Commission cited privacy concerns as the reason for its silence.

The visa denial has caused disappointment and frustration among the Nigerian officials, who were invited to an event in Canada honoring war veterans. While some members of the delegation received visas, others were denied entry.

General Musa expressed his dismay over the visa refusal, describing it as a “wake-up call” for Nigeria. “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.

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu condemned Canada’s actions, calling the visa denial “disrespectful” and remarking that “Canada can go to hell.” He emphasized the need for Nigeria to focus on internal strength, stating that this incident further underscored the importance of improving the country’s own stability.

According to PUNCH, In response to the claims, the Canadian High Commission acknowledged the media reports but refrained from commenting on the specifics of the visa applications.

“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,” the statement read.