Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has strongly condemned the Canadian embassy’s decision to deny a visa to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, calling it a disrespectful act against Nigeria.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels Television, on Friday, Tunji-Ojo criticised Canada’s handling of the visa application, stating that the move was unacceptable and showed a lack of regard for Nigeria as a sovereign nation.

“As much as we are not ready to dabble into the sovereignty of other nations, the issue of visas and migration management is a sovereign issue. However, denying a visa to the Chief of Defence Staff is not just disrespectful to him—it is disrespectful to Nigeria as a country and its people,” the minister stated.

Concerns Over Visa Treatment for Nigerians

The minister also questioned the treatment of ordinary Nigerian citizens seeking visas, suggesting that if a high-ranking government official faced such rejection, the situation could be worse for the average Nigerian.

“If this can happen to the Chief of Defence Staff, then I am worried for an average Nigerian,” he added.

Defence Chief Denied Visa for War Veterans’ Event

General Musa had earlier revealed in Abuja that he and some members of his team were denied visas to attend an event honouring war veterans in Canada. The incident has sparked debates about diplomatic relations, visa reciprocity, and migration policies between Nigeria and Canada.

This development raises concerns over the treatment of Nigerian officials and citizens in visa applications, with calls for stronger diplomatic engagements to address such issues.