National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu under President Bola Tinubu adiminstration has strongly criticized the Canadian embassy for denying visas to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Christopher Musa and other senior military officials.
Speaking at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja on Thursday, Ribadu expressed his displeasure, stating that Canada “can go to hell” over the incident.
His reaction followed Musa’s revelation that he and his team were scheduled to attend an event in Canada on Wednesday to honor war veterans but were denied entry.
Musa condemned the decision, emphasizing that it serves as a reminder for Nigeria to become more self-reliant and assertive.
“Every disappointment is a blessing,” Musa said. “Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada for an event honoring our veterans—those injured in battle. We were invited, but while some members of our team were granted visas, others were denied. It’s very disappointing.”
Ribadu, visibly frustrated, praised Musa for speaking out about the issue.
“Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell,” Ribadu stated. “It is painful and disrespectful, but we are strong and peaceful. This is yet another reason to work hard and fix our country.”
He further commended Musa for his leadership in the fight against insecurity, highlighting the collaborative efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies across the nation.