THE Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has acknowledged media reports concerning the visa denials of senior Nigerian military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Commission in Nigeria on Friday.
This newspaper reports that the officials had been invited to an event in Canada honouring war veterans.
While some members of the delegation received visas, others were denied entry, causing disappointment and frustration.
Musa shared his experience at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies in Abuja on Thursday, expressing his dismay over the visa refusal.
He described the situation as a “wake-up call” for Nigeria, urging the nation 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.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu also weighed in on the issue, offering his support for the Chief of Defence Staff’s public statement.
Ribadu condemned Canada’s actions, calling the visa denial “disrespectful” and remarking that “Canada can go to hell.”
He emphasised the need for Nigeria to focus on internal strength, stating that this incident further underscored the importance of improving the country’s own stability.
In a complicated 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.
“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.