Nigeria to take decisive action over Canada’s visa denial to defence chief, others – Minister

Nigeria will respond decisively if Canada does not address its refusal to grant a visa to Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, according to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

In a statement released by Iyogun Sunday, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Defence, Matawalle emphasized the need for Nigeria to assert itself on the global stage following the diplomatic standoff.

The visa denial affected General Musa and other members of a Nigerian delegation scheduled to attend an event in Canada honoring Nigerian war veterans. Expressing dissatisfaction, Matawalle warned that such actions could strain diplomatic ties between both nations.

“This is not a mere bureaucratic mistake; it is an affront to our national dignity and integrity. We cannot allow our country to be disrespected in this way on the global stage,” he stated.

Calling for an immediate inquiry into the situation, Matawalle insisted that Nigeria must respond firmly to safeguard its international standing.

“We cannot afford to be passive in the face of such disrespect. The Nigerian government must take a strong diplomatic position. If we do not receive a satisfactory explanation, we must be prepared to take appropriate and assertive action,” he declared.

The incident has raised concerns about Canada’s treatment of Nigerian military officials and broader diplomatic relations.

Previously, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu also criticized the Canadian embassy over the visa denial. His remarks came after General Musa, speaking at an event in Abuja, revealed that half of his delegation had been denied entry despite being invited for a veterans’ ceremony.

Describing the situation as “disappointing,” Musa said it served as a reminder for Nigeria to “stand strong as a nation” and not be underestimated.