The Nigerian government has expressed dissatisfaction with the Canadian embassy’s decision to deny visas to its military officers.
- Nigeria expresses dissatisfaction with Canada denying visas to its military officers
- Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa and senior army officials were denied visas to attend an event in Canada
- Canada has introduced new immigration regulations to cancel temporary resident documents under specific circumstances to bolster border security
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, criticized the Canadian embassy for refusing visas to the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and other senior army officials.
Ribadu made these remarks during the inaugural lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja, adding that Canada “can go to hell”.
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Earlier, Major General Musa shared how he and his colleagues were denied visas at the Canadian embassy according to The Cable.
“Every disappointment is a blessing, yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada for an event to honour our veterans—those injured in battle. We were invited along with our team, but while half of us got visas, the other half was denied. It’s very disappointing,” Musa said.
Ribadu, unable to conceal his displeasure, commended the CDS for speaking out about the incident.
“Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell,” the NSA said.
“Even though it’s painful, it’s disrespectful, but we are peaceful and strong and I agree with you that it is time to fix our country. Yet, this is another reason we work hard to make Nigeria work.” the NSA noted.
Canada tightens immigration process
Canada has introduced new immigration regulations that grant immigration officers the authority to cancel temporary resident documents, including eTAs, TRVs, and work and study permits, under specific circumstances.
This move which came into effect on January 31, 2025, aims to bolster border security, maintain the integrity of visa programs, and protect public safety.
According to information on the Canadian government website, the following reasons may lead to the cancellation of an electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) and temporary resident visas (TRVs)
- A change in the person’s status or circumstances makes them ineligible or inadmissible (e.g., providing false information, having a criminal history, or being deceased).
- The officer is not convinced that the individual will leave Canada by the end of their authorized stay.
- The visa document is lost, stolen, destroyed, or abandoned.
The regulations allow immigration and border services officers to manage issues related to temporary resident status more effectively.
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By cancelling documents in certain cases, Canada seeks to reduce security risks and ensure that only eligible individuals remain in the country.
