Nigeria Fumes Over Canada’s Visa Denial to Military Chiefs, Considers Diplomatic Retaliation

The Nigerian government has expressed strong disapproval over Canada’s decision to deny visas to senior military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, sparking a diplomatic row between the two nations. The officials were invited to an event honouring war veterans in Canada, but while some delegation members received visas, others were denied, leading to widespread frustration and calls for a decisive response.

General Musa shared his disappointment during the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies in Abuja on Thursday, describing the incident as a “wake-up call” for Nigeria. He urged the nation to strengthen its sovereignty and stand firm on the global stage.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, echoed these sentiments, condemning Canada’s actions as “disrespectful” and stating, “Canada can go to hell.”

Canadian Embassy Responds
In response to the backlash, the Canadian High Commission acknowledged media reports about the visa denials but declined to comment on specific cases. “The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is aware of media reports related to planned travel by senior officials. However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to comment on the status of visa applications of specific individuals,” the commission stated.

Ministers React Strongly
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, criticized the visa denial as disrespectful not only to General Musa but to Nigeria as a whole. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Tunji-Ojo hinted at potential reciprocal measures.

“Without knowing the full facts, I believe that reciprocity must be considered in such matters. While we respect the sovereignty of other nations, the issue of visas and migration management should be approached with fairness. Denying a visa to the Chief of Defence Staff is not just disrespectful to him personally, but to Nigeria as a whole. If this can happen to a high-ranking official, then one must wonder about the fate of the average Nigerian,” he said.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, expressed “profound disappointment” over the incident, calling it a “serious affront to our national dignity and integrity.” He urged the Nigerian government to take a firm diplomatic stance, stating, “We must not remain passive in the face of such disrespect. It is imperative that the Nigerian government responds appropriately and assertively.”

Potential Retaliation
A senior official in the Nigerian Immigration Service, who spoke on condition of anonymity, warned that Nigeria might retaliate by turning away Canadian nationals at its borders if the matter is not resolved.

“It was a minor issue before, but it has now become a major one. Denying the CDS a visa is insulting. If the Canadian embassy does not handle this situation properly, the response will be significant. Nigeria may also start turning back Canadian nationals entering the country,” the official said, referencing a similar incident earlier this year involving South Africa.

Ex-Diplomats Weigh In
Retired diplomats have also weighed in on the controversy. Mohammed Mabdul, a former envoy to Algeria, attributed the incident to Nigeria’s lack of senior representation in its embassies. “All our embassies don’t have ambassadors. We only have charge d’affaires. If there was an ambassador in Canada, the matter would have been related to him, and he or she would take it up,” Mabdul said.

Another retired diplomat, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, recalled a similar incident involving former military leader General Yakubu Gowon in the 2000s. He emphasized the need for diplomatic matters to be handled by the appropriate governmental bodies to ensure proper protocol.

Human Rights Concerns
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana suggested that the visa denials could be linked to allegations of corruption or human rights abuses involving Nigerian military officers. “With respect to the ban on military chiefs, it has to do with human rights abuse. Either for invading communities or reckless killing of civilians without accountability,” Falana said.

He also noted that Canada has historically supported Nigeria, particularly during the struggle against military rule, but stressed the importance of addressing human rights issues to avoid future diplomatic friction.

Government’s Next Steps
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, stated that the Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, would address the issue at the appropriate time. Meanwhile, the NSA, Ribadu, declined further comment, reiterating that Canada’s treatment of Nigeria was unfair.

As tensions escalate, the Nigerian government is considering its next steps, with potential diplomatic retaliation on the table. The incident has highlighted the fragile state of Nigeria-Canada relations and underscored the need for stronger diplomatic representation and engagement.