The Nigerian government reacted with anger on Thursday after Canada denied visas to defence chief Christopher Musa and other military officials.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu expressed outrage over the decision, saying Canada “can go to hell” in a rare public condemnation of a foreign government.
Ribadu made the remarks in Abuja at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies, as reported by The Cable.
Musa said that he and his team were scheduled to attend an event honouring war veterans when their visa applications were rejected.
“Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada. There’s an event to honour our veterans, those that were injured during battles, and we were meant to be there,” Musa said.
“We were invited with our team. Half has gone and half has been denied. It’s very disappointing.”
The defence chief added that the incident underscored the need for Nigeria to “stand on its own, stand strong as a nation and should no longer be taken for granted”.
Ribadu praised Musa for publicly addressing the issue.
“Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell,” he said.
“Even though it’s painful and disrespectful, we are peaceful and strong. This is another reason we must work hard to make Nigeria better.”
Why This Matters
As Nigeria’s highest-ranking military officer, Musa oversees operations across the army, navy, and air force. Since his appointment in 2023, he has led efforts to combat insurgencies in the northwest and northeast, including the fight against Boko Haram and armed bandit groups. His forces are also engaged in security operations against separatist violence in the southeast.
It is unclear why Canada denied visas to Musa and his delegation, particularly given the two countries’ security ties. However, the decision – and the public reaction from Nigerian officials – appears to indicate a rare diplomatic rift.
Pluboard has reached out to the Canadian High Commission for comments.
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