‘For privacy reasons’ — Canadian high commission refuses to comment on CDS visa denial

The Canadian high commission in Nigeria says it will not comment on the circumstances around its visa denial to Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS).

While speaking at a public gathering in Abuja on Thursday, the nation’s capital, the CDS said the Canadian high commission denied him and other top military officers visas to attend an event organised to honour war veterans.

Musa said he ought to have been in Canada on Wednesday, noting that half of his team was granted the visa.

He said the incident was a clear reminder that Nigeria must “stand on its own” and should no longer be taken for granted.

Reacting to the development, Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), who was also at the event, expressed displeasure at the treatment meted out to the defence team.

“They can go to hell,” an angry Ribadu fumed, noting that it was a wake-up call to make Nigeria work.

Many Nigerians also berated the North American country on social media for denying the CDS, who is the head of the armed forces and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the president and minister of defence, a visa.

However, in a statement posted on X on Friday, the Canadian high commission acknowledged the media reports about the incident.

“The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is aware of media reports related to planned travel to Canada by senior officials,” the commission wrote.

“However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to provide any comment on the status of visa applications of specific individuals.”