Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has strongly criticized the Canadian Embassy for denying a visa to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa.
The controversy began after General Musa disclosed that he, alongside several senior military officers, was denied visas to attend a Canadian event honouring war veterans. While some members of the delegation successfully obtained visas, others faced rejection, leaving them unable to participate.
General Musa expressed his frustration, calling the incident a “wake-up call” for Nigeria to strengthen its sovereignty and resist undue external influences.
Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television program, Tunji-Ojo described the embassy’s actions as a blatant show of disrespect.
“Without delving into all the details, I firmly believe the principle of reciprocity must always be considered. While we respect the sovereignty of other nations and their migration policies, this particular incident, to me, transcends an individual—it is an affront to Nigeria as a nation and its people. If the Chief of Defence Staff can face such treatment, what does it mean for the average Nigerian?”
He criticized the lack of diplomatic engagement, noting that even if there were concerns, they should have been addressed through proper diplomatic channels. Tunji-Ojo expressed confidence that Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs would act swiftly to resolve the matter and reinforce mutual respect between both nations.
