The Federal Government and former diplomats on Thursday condemned Canada’s decision to deny visas to top military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and other senior officers.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who spoke on Thursday at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies in Abuja, expressed outrage at the move, calling it “disrespectful” and boldly declaring that Canada “can go to hell.”

The controversy unfolded when Gen Musa revealed that he and several senior military officers were blocked from attending an event in Canada meant to honour war veterans.

While some members of the delegation were granted visas, others were left stranded after their applications were denied.

Musa expressed his disappointment, calling the incident a “wake-up call” for Nigeria to strengthen its sovereignty and resist being taken for granted by foreign nations.

“This is a reminder that we must stand on our own, stand strong as a nation, and refuse to be taken for granted,” he advised.

Ribadu supported Musa’s remarks, praising him for publicly addressing the issue.

He emphasised the importance of Nigeria focusing on its internal strength rather than seeking external validation.

The NSA noted, “Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell.
“Even though it’s painful and disrespectful, we are peaceful, we are strong, and I agree with you—it is time to fix our country. This is yet another reason we must work hard to make Nigeria work.”

An official in the Canadian High Commission who spoke on the condition of anonymity informed our correspondent that the embassy’s response to the matter would be made available today (Friday).

Former Nigerian ambassador to Cameroon, Ambassador Rasheed Akinkuolie, also weighed in, asserting that high-ranking officials such as the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, and other service chiefs should typically hold diplomatic passports.

Akinkuolie noted that any visa applications for these top officials should be routed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and accompanied by a Note Verbale.

He explained that denial of such visas is inconceivable, and should it occur, the Nigerian mission in Canada should delay processing all diplomatic, official, and private visa applications for Canadians visiting Nigeria as a reciprocal measure.

https://punchng.com/fg-ex-envoys-slam-canada-for-denying-military-chiefs-visas/