The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has criticized the Canadian Embassy for denying a visa to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa. General Musa revealed on Thursday during the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies that he and some members of his team were refused visas to attend an event honoring war veterans in Canada.

Tunji-Ojo, speaking in an interview on Friday, condemned the decision, stating that it was not only disrespectful to General Musa but also to Nigeria as a whole. He questioned how an ordinary Nigerian would be treated by the Canadian authorities if such an action could be taken against a high-ranking official.

Without knowing all the facts, he said, the issue of reciprocity in diplomatic relations must be considered. While acknowledging that migration management is a sovereign issue, he emphasized that diplomatic respect should be maintained. He argued that if there were concerns from the Canadian embassy, they could have been addressed through diplomatic channels rather than outright visa denial.

Tunji-Ojo expressed confidence that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would take appropriate diplomatic steps to address the situation and ensure mutual respect between both nations.

Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, also condemned Canada’s decision. Speaking at the same event where General Musa disclosed the visa denial, Ribadu described the action as disrespectful and stated that Canada “can go to hell.” He acknowledged the pain caused by the incident but urged Nigerians to remain strong and work towards fixing the country.

Ribadu also praised General Musa for his leadership in the fight against insecurity, noting that security agencies are working together across the country to address various challenges.