By Abiola Olawale
The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria has reacted to the controversy surrounding the denial of visas to senior Nigerian officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
In a statement shared on X, the Canadian authorities acknowledged the strong awareness of media reports about the trending issue of visas refusals to some Nigerian military chiefs but stated they could not provide details on individual applications, citing “privacy reasons.”
The New Diplomat reports that the situation became public knowledge after Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa detailed an experience in which he and several senior military officers were denied entry into Canada while attempting to participate in an official engagement.
The CDS explained that the delegation had been invited to an event to honour war veterans but was left in limbo after the embassy denied visas to some of its members.
He said: “Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada for an event to honour our veterans—those injured in battle. We were invited along with our team, but while half of us got visas, the other half was denied. It’s very disappointing.
“This is a reminder that we must stand on our own, stand strong as a nation, and refuse to be taken for granted.”
Reacting via a statement on X, the Canadian High Commission wrote: “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.”
