The Canada High Commission in Nigeria has responded to claims by Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, that the Canadian embassy denied him and other top military officers visas.
General Musa had revealed that he and his colleagues were supposed to travel to Canada on Wednesday for an event honoring military veterans but were denied visas just a day before.
Speaking at the maiden National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) lecture in Abuja, he described the situation as disappointing but stated, “Every disappointment is a blessing.”
The visa denial sparked strong reactions, with National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu condemning Canada’s decision, saying, “They can go to hell.” Similarly, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo called the move disrespectful to Nigeria.
In response, the Canada High Commission in Nigeria issued a brief statement via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday.
While acknowledging the media reports, it stated that, due to privacy policies, it could not comment on the visa applications of specific individuals.