National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has strongly criticized the Canadian government for denying visas to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and other top military officials.
Speaking on Thursday at the inaugural annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja, Ribadu expressed his discontent, declaring that Canada “can go to hell” for its decision.
His remarks followed General Musa’s revelation that he and his team had been scheduled to attend an official event in Canada on Wednesday to honor war veterans but were denied entry.
“Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada. There’s an event to honour our veterans, those that were injured during battles, and we were meant to be there,” Musa stated.
Reacting to the situation, Ribadu praised the CDS for speaking openly about the incident and emphasized the need for a stronger Nigeria that would no longer be disregarded on the global stage.
“Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell,” Ribadu said. “Even though it’s painful and disrespectful, 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.”
Ribadu further commended Musa for his leadership in addressing national security challenges, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between Nigeria’s security agencies to strengthen the country’s defense and stability.