The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has addressed reports suggesting that Nigerian senior officials, including Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Christopher Musa, were denied visas.
However, the commission refrained from mentioning CDS Musa directly.
In an official statement, the commission cited privacy policies as the reason for not commenting on individual visa applications.
“The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is aware of media reports concerning the planned travel of senior officials to Canada.
“However, due to privacy considerations, we cannot provide any comments on the visa status of specific individuals,” the statement read.
The development follows criticism from Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who condemned the Canadian embassy’s decision to reject visa applications from top military personnel, including Musa.
CDS Musa revealed during the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja that he and his team had been invited to Canada for an event honouring war veterans.
However, visas were denied to half of the delegation.
Expressing his disappointment, Musa described the situation as a wake-up call for Nigeria to assert itself as a strong and independent nation.
“I was supposed to be in Canada yesterday for an event recognizing our veterans, particularly those wounded in battle.
“Our team received invitations, but while some members were granted visas, others were denied. It is very disappointing,” he stated.
Ribadu, in response, praised Musa for openly addressing the issue, stating, “Thank you for having the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell.”
He further stressed that despite such setbacks, Nigeria remains a resilient and peaceful nation, urging continuous efforts to overcome diplomatic and security challenges.
Additionally, Ribadu commended Musa’s leadership in tackling insecurity, highlighting the ongoing collaboration among security agencies to address national security threats.