Nigeria’s Defence Chief, Gen. Christopher Musa, has revealed that the country’s military met all requirements before Canada denied visas to key members of the Invictus Games contingent. He questions Canada’s motive, hinting at a potential diplomatic issue. Get the full story now.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has spoken out regarding the controversial visa denial by the Canadian High Commission, asserting that Nigeria’s military met all necessary requirements before applying.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, while receiving the Nigerian Armed Forces Contingent who recently won medals at the Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada, Gen. Musa dismissed speculations surrounding the incident, describing them as ignorant comments from uninformed individuals.
Gen. Musa insisted that the military did not cut corners, adding that all applications were processed in line with Canada’s stipulated requirements.
“On the issue of visa denial, we must understand that traveling abroad is not a right, and Nigeria is good enough for all of us,” he said.
The Defence Chief revealed that the military had an official invitation for the sporting event and followed all agreed protocols. He emphasized that key stakeholders, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Adviser (NSA), were fully aware of the process.
“We had an agreement, we were invited, a program was sent, and we followed all requirements. The question is—why were our essential team members denied visas?” he asked.
Despite fulfilling all necessary criteria, crucial team members, including the team captain, medical doctor, and physiotherapist, were mysteriously denied entry.
“These individuals were vital for our participation, yet they were deliberately excluded. What was the motive?” Gen. Musa queried.
He expressed satisfaction that the Federal Government is investigating the matter, hinting at potential diplomatic undertones behind Canada’s decision.
The visa snub has sparked concerns about the state of Nigeria-Canada diplomatic relations, with many Nigerians questioning whether political bias influenced the decision.
While Canada has yet to publicly explain its reasoning, the Nigerian government is closely monitoring the situation, raising the possibility of diplomatic engagement in the coming weeks.
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