The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has strongly criticized the Canadian embassy for denying visas to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and other senior military officers scheduled for an official engagement.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), Ribadu condemned the decision, stating, “Canada can go to hell.”
General Musa had earlier voiced his disappointment, revealing that he and his team were invited to a Canadian event honoring war veterans but were denied entry.
“Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada. There’s an event to honour our veterans, those injured in battles, and we were meant to be there,” Musa said.
“We were invited with our team. Half has gone, and half has been denied. It’s very disappointing. This is a clear reminder that we must stand strong as a nation and should no longer be taken for granted,” he added.
Reacting to the incident, Ribadu described the visa denial as a sign of disrespect and an insult to Nigeria.
“Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell,” Ribadu declared.
He further stated, “Even though it’s painful and disrespectful, we are peaceful and strong. I agree with you it is time to fix our country. Yet, this is another reason we must work hard to make Nigeria work.”
Ribadu also praised General Musa for his leadership in tackling insecurity, noting that all security agencies are now working together across different regions of the country.
