Nigeria has slammed Canada for refusing visas to several senior military officials, including the country’s Chief of Defence, General Christopher Musa. The officials had planned to attend an event honouring Nigeria’s wounded military veterans, but were unable to travel due to visa denials.
Speaking at an event in Abuja on Thursday, Musa expressed disappointment over the decision, saying “half my team… is long gone,” while others were denied entry by the Canadian embassy for reasons not disclosed.
Canada Raises Privacy Concerns
In response, the Canadian embassy in Nigeria acknowledged in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that it was aware of the issue, but declined to provide further details, citing “privacy reasons.” The timing of the visa denial is not yet clear, but Canada recently introduced new regulations allowing authorities to cancel temporary residency documents as part of efforts to strengthen border security and maintain visa integrity.
Musa said the delegation is set to participate in the ongoing Invictus Winter Games in Vancouver, which entered its fifth day on Friday. However, half of the team remains in Nigeria due to visa restrictions.
Harsh Reactions from Nigerian Officials
At the same event, Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu criticized Canada’s actions, saying the country could “go to hell” for what he described as a “disrespectful” decision. His comments were met with applause from the audience.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Tunji Olubunmi-Ojo also condemned Canada’s handling of the situation, saying Nigeria deserved more respect. However, he stressed that diplomatic channels would be explored to resolve the issue.