Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has strongly criticized the Canadian Embassy for denying a visa to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, calling the action a sign of disrespect to the country.
The controversy erupted after General Musa disclosed that he and several senior military officers were refused visas to attend an event in Canada honoring war veterans. While some members of the delegation were granted entry, others were left stranded after their applications were rejected.
Reacting to the situation, General Musa described the incident as a “wake-up call” for Nigeria to reinforce its sovereignty and prevent foreign nations from undermining its authority.
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Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Minister Tunji-Ojo condemned the decision, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic respect and reciprocity in international relations.
“Without knowing the full facts, I think, even for us, the issue of reciprocity has to be given due consideration,” he said. “As much as we respect the sovereignty of other nations, visa and migration management policies should not be used in a manner that disrespects Nigeria. If this can happen to the Chief of Defence Staff, then I am deeply concerned about the treatment of the average Nigerian.”
Tunji-Ojo argued that even if there were concerns about the visa applications, diplomatic channels should have been used to address them. He expressed confidence that Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs would take the necessary steps to resolve the issue and ensure mutual respect between the two nations.
