Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has strongly criticized the Canadian Embassy for denying visas to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and several top military officers.
Ribadu’s remarks followed Musa’s revelation at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja on Thursday.
Musa disclosed that he and his team had been invited to Canada for an event honoring war veterans, but half of the delegation was denied visas.
Expressing his disappointment, Musa described the situation as a lesson for Nigeria to assert itself and not be taken for granted.
“Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada. There’s an event to honour our veterans, those who were injured during battles, and we were meant to be there.
“We were invited with our team. Half has gone, and half has been denied. It’s very disappointing,” he said.
In response, Ribadu praised Musa for openly addressing the issue and did not hold back in his criticism of Canada’s decision.
“Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell,” Ribadu said.
Despite the setback, he emphasized that Nigeria remains “peaceful and strong” and must continue working hard to navigate such diplomatic challenges.
The incident has also drawn attention to the significance of Nigeria’s military leadership, with Ribadu commending Musa for his “purposeful leadership” in tackling insecurity across the country.
He highlighted the ongoing collaboration among security agencies in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, reinforcing the need for unity and resilience in the face of external obstacles.
