The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has warned that Nigeria will take decisive action if Canada fails to address the controversy surrounding its refusal to grant a visa to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
Matawalle made this assertion in an official statement signed by Iyogun Sunday, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Defence. He emphasized that Nigeria must assert itself on the global stage, particularly in light of the recent diplomatic incident in which General Musa and other members of the Nigerian delegation were denied entry visas to Canada.
The delegation had been scheduled to attend a major event honouring Nigerian war veterans in Canada, but their travel plans were abruptly halted due to the visa denials.
Expressing deep disappointment, the minister condemned the action as a direct challenge to Nigeria’s sovereignty and international standing.
“This is not a mere bureaucratic mistake; it is an affront to our national dignity and integrity. We cannot allow our country to be disrespected in this way on the global stage,” Matawalle declared.
He called for an urgent investigation into the matter, insisting that Nigeria must not remain passive in the face of such treatment.
“We cannot afford to be passive in the face of such disrespect. The Nigerian government must take a strong diplomatic position. If we do not receive a satisfactory explanation, we must be prepared to take appropriate and assertive action,” he warned.
The visa denial has raised concerns over Canada’s treatment of Nigerian military officials and the broader implications for diplomatic relations between the two nations. It remains to be seen how the Nigerian government will respond if the issue remains unresolved.
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