Ribadu slams Canada over visa denial to defence chief

Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser has strongly criticised the Canadian Government for denying visas to Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and other senior Military officers.

Ribadu described the decision as “disrespectful”, adding, “Canada “can go to hell.”

Speaking on Thursday at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies in Abuja, Ribadu reacted to revelations by Musa, who disclosed that he and his delegation had been invited to an event honouring war veterans but were denied visas by the Canadian embassy.

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Narrating the ordeal, Musa said the visa denial disrupted their travel plans, leaving half of the delegation stranded.

“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,” he stated.

The Defence Chief, however, viewed the incident as a wake-up call for Nigeria to reinforce its sovereignty and reduce dependence on foreign nations.

“This is a reminder that we must stand on our own, stand strong as a nation, and refuse to be taken for granted,” he added.

Backing the CDS’s stance, Ribadu commended him for openly addressing the issue, emphasising the need for Nigeria to focus on self-reliance rather than seeking validation from foreign countries.

“Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell,” Ribadu declared.

Acknowledging the situation as “painful and disrespectful,” Ribadu insisted that Nigeria must use such moments as motivation to strengthen its institutions.

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“We are peaceful, we are strong, and I agree with you—it is time to fix our country. This is yet another reason we must work hard to make Nigeria work,” he noted.

The visa denial has sparked conversations about diplomatic relations and national self-sufficiency, with public analysts calling for a review of Nigeria’s foreign policy approach.