Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has condemned the Canadian High Commission’s refusal to grant a visa to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, describing it as a sign of disrespect toward Nigeria and its citizens.
Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television program, on Friday, Tunji-Ojo voiced his displeasure over the incident.
“While we acknowledge the sovereignty of every nation and their right to determine visa and migration policies, this situation is not just about the Chief of Defence Staff alone. Without even delving into all the details, I see this as a slight against Nigeria as a country and its people.
If this can happen to a top military officer, what does it mean for ordinary Nigerians?” he questioned.
His reaction followed Musa’s revelation that he and other senior military officials were scheduled to travel to Canada for an official engagement on Wednesday but were denied visas.
Musa viewed the development as a wake-up call for Nigeria to strengthen its global standing and ensure the country is not taken for granted.
Tunji-Ojo, in response, criticized the handling of the matter, suggesting that Canada should have engaged diplomatic channels rather than outrightly rejecting the visa applications. He also raised concerns about how Nigerian citizens are treated by foreign embassies if such an incident could happen to a high-ranking official.
“Even without full details, I strongly believe that visa reciprocity should be taken more seriously in our policies,” he added.
Despite the controversy, the minister expressed confidence that his counterpart in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, would address the matter diplomatically to ensure mutual respect between both nations.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu also voiced his displeasure, condemning Canada’s actions. He reportedly stated that the country could “go to hell” and praised the CDS for his leadership in tackling insecurity.