The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu has criticized the Canadian embassy for refusing to grant visas to Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and other top military officials.
The CDS revealed the situation on Thursday at an event in Abuja organized by the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies.
He explained that they were scheduled to attend an event in Canada honouring war veterans but were denied entry.
While some members of their delegation received visas, others were rejected.
Reacting to the incident, Ribadu expressed disappointment, calling it a sign that Nigeria should focus on strengthening itself as a nation.
“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.”
“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 praised Musa for speaking out and assured that the country remains resilient despite the setback.
Ribadu also commended the CDS for his leadership in tackling security challenges, noting that different security agencies are working together to improve safety across the country.
