The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria has refused to disclose the reason for denying a visa to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, citing privacy concerns.
Musa, who was scheduled to travel to Canada for a military-related event, expressed his disappointment after being denied entry by the Canadian embassy in Nigeria.
Speaking on Thursday at the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) event in Abuja, the Defence Chief revealed that he and some of his colleagues were barred from traveling despite being officially invited.
“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.
We were invited with our team. Half has gone, and half has been denied. It’s very disappointing,” Musa stated.
Following reports of the visa denial, the Canadian High Commission issued a statement on social media platform X, addressing the situation without providing specific details.
“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,” the statement read.
The development has sparked speculation about the rationale behind Canada’s decision, particularly given Musa’s high-ranking position and the nature of the event he was scheduled to attend.
While Canada maintains strict immigration policies, it remains unclear why a top military official was denied a visa while some members of his delegation were granted entry.
The incident raises questions about diplomatic relations between the two nations and whether the visa denial was purely administrative or indicative of broader political considerations.
However, neither the Nigerian government nor the Canadian authorities have provided further clarification on the matter.
As discussions continue, observers await any potential response from Nigerian authorities regarding the implications of this decision on bilateral ties between both countries.