Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), has expressed strong disapproval over the Canadian embassy’s decision to deny visas to Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s chief of defence staff (CDS), and other top military officials.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), Ribadu did not hold back his frustration, stating that Canada “can go to hell.”
His remarks came in response to Musa’s revelation that he and other senior military officers had been scheduled to attend an official event in Canada on Wednesday but were unable to travel due to visa denials.
Read also: How Ribadu plans to tackle kidnapping in 2025
Musa explained that the event was intended to honour war veterans, including those injured in battle. He described the visa refusal as a wake-up call for Nigeria to become more self-reliant.
“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.”
Reacting to Musa’s account, Ribadu commended the CDS for publicly addressing the issue.
“Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell,” the NSA said.
“Even though it’s painful, it’s disrespectful, but we are peaceful and strong, and I agree with you that it is time to fix our country. Yet, this is another reason we work hard to make Nigeria work,” he added.
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