Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has criticized the Canadian High Commission for denying a visa to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa. The denial occurred when General Musa and his team were unable to attend an event in Canada honoring war veterans.
During an appearance on Channels Television, Tunji-Ojo expressed that this action is disrespectful to Nigeria as a nation and raised concerns about how ordinary Nigerians might be treated if their military leaders are disrespected. He emphasized the importance of reciprocity in diplomatic relations and questioned the lack of communication from the Canadian mission.
The Minister stated, “If that can happen to the chief of defence staff, then I am worried for an average Nigerian,” suggesting that this incident reflects broader issues in visa and migration management.
In response to inquiries, a spokesperson from the Canadian High Commission cited privacy reasons for not commenting on specific visa applications, indicating a reluctance to disclose details regarding the situation.
Tunji-Ojo expressed hope that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would address the issue diplomatically to ensure mutual respect between Nigeria and Canada.
