Abuja, Nigeria – The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has strongly criticized the Canadian embassy for denying visas to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other top military officers. Ribadu’s remarks came in response to Musa’s revelation at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja on Thursday.
General Musa disclosed that he and his team were invited to Canada for an event honoring war veterans, particularly those injured in battle. However, half of the Nigerian delegation was denied visas by the Canadian authorities, a move he described as “disappointing.”
“Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada. There’s an event to honor our veterans, those that were injured during battles, and we were meant to be there,” Musa stated. “We were invited with our team. Half has gone, and half has been denied. It’s very disappointing.”
Reacting to the development, Ribadu expressed his outrage and commended Musa for speaking out, stating, “Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell.”
Despite the setback, Ribadu emphasized that Nigeria remains “peaceful and strong” and must continue working hard to assert itself on the global stage. He also praised Musa for providing “purposeful leadership” in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against insecurity, highlighting the collaboration among security agencies across the country to tackle national challenges.
The visa denial incident has sparked discussions about Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and the need for stronger national resilience in international engagements.