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A senior official of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has cautioned that Nigeria may take reciprocal measures if Canada does not address the recent visa denials affecting senior military officers, including Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa.
The affected officers were invited to an event in Canada honouring war veterans, but while some members of the delegation were granted visas, others were refused entry, leading to frustration.
On Friday, the Canadian High Commission acknowledged media reports on the issue but declined to provide details, citing privacy concerns.
Speaking with Punch under anonymity, an NIS official warned that if the situation is not resolved appropriately, Nigeria could consider barring Canadian nationals from entering the country.
“What initially seemed like a minor issue has escalated. When high-ranking officials like the CDS need to travel, their protocol officers usually secure a Note Verbale and submit it with their passports.
“However, in urgent cases, this may not be required,” the official explained.
He criticized the Canadian embassy’s handling of the situation, stating, “For a senior officer of the CDS’s status, the right approach should have been to verify his identity with the appropriate authorities rather than outrightly refusing his visa. It is a sign of disrespect.”
The official compared the potential response to Nigeria’s past actions against South Africa.
Earlier in the year, Nigeria retaliated by denying entry to a South African airline carrying dignitaries after South Africa had turned away a large number of Nigerians.
“If Canada does not properly address this matter, there will be a strong response. Nigeria may begin rejecting Canadian travellers at its borders, just as we did with South Africa,” the source warned.
“In that case, the South African president had to intervene immediately. The Canadian embassy should tread carefully.”