By Eve Omayrs
In a move that has sparked outrage and raised diplomatic concerns, the Canadian High Commission has denied a visa to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, despite approving visas for some of his delegation. The shocking decision has drawn the ire of National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, who did not mince words in condemning Canada’s actions.
The visa denial, which affected Musa and other senior military officials, came ahead of an official assignment in Canada to honor war veterans. Addressing the issue at the inaugural annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies in Abuja, Musa revealed the disappointment of being barred from the trip while other members of the delegation were granted entry. His disclosure prompted a strong response from Ribadu, who stated bluntly, “They can go to hell.”
The incident has fueled speculation about the reasons behind Canada’s decision, especially given that some officers in the same delegation were approved. The rejection cannot be attributed to the Canadian High Commission’s temporary suspension of operations in November 2023 following a fire incident, nor to the country’s recent travel advisory against non-essential trips to Nigeria. This selective approval raises questions about whether the decision was politically motivated or influenced by undisclosed diplomatic tensions.
For many Nigerians, this snub is not just a bureaucratic mishap but a glaring disrespect to the country’s military leadership. The development has added to growing concerns over how Western nations handle diplomatic engagements with Nigeria, especially regarding visa policies for top government and military officials.
With no official explanation from the Canadian authorities, the rejection remains a controversial and unresolved diplomatic slight. Whether this signals deeper tensions between both nations or merely an administrative decision remains to be seen. However, the backlash from Nigeria’s security chiefs suggests that the issue will not be swept under the rug.
