We Won’t Reveal Why Nigeria’s Defence Chiefs’ Visa Applications Were Denied — Canadian Embassy
The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria has addressed media reports regarding the denial of visa applications for Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and other senior military officers who were set to travel to Canada for an event.
In a brief statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, the High Commission acknowledged the reports but clarified that they could not comment on the specifics of individual visa applications due to privacy concerns.
“The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is aware of media reports related to planned travel to Canada by senior officials. However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to provide any comment on the status of visa applications of specific individuals,” the statement read.
This response came after General Musa spoke on Thursday at the inaugural annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja. During his remarks, he disclosed that he and some of his colleagues were denied visas to attend an event in Canada that was intended to honor veterans and individuals injured in battle.
“Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada. There’s an event to honour our veterans, those that were injured during battles, and we were meant to be there,” Musa said. “We were invited with our team. Half has gone, and half has been denied. It’s very disappointing,” he added.
The denial has generated significant discussions in both diplomatic and military circles, with many questioning the reasons behind the decision. However, Canada’s High Commission has refrained from offering further details or clarification on the matter.
