Nigeria’ s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji- Ojo, has strongly criticized the Canadian Embassy for refusing a visa to General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The minister described the decision as an outright disregard for Nigeria’ s sovereignty and a diplomatic slight against the country’ s leadership....Read Full Article >>➤
The controversy came to light on Thursday when General Musa, while speaking at the inaugural annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies, disclosed that he and some of his colleagues were denied entry permits to Canada.
According to him, the delegation was scheduled to attend a special event dedicated to honouring war veterans, but the visa refusal prevented them from participating.
Reacting to the matter on Friday during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a flagship programme on Channels Television, Tunji- Ojo condemned the move, insisting that such treatment was not only unacceptable but also disrespectful to Nigeria as a sovereign state.
Visa Denial A Violation Of Diplomatic Norms
The minister pointed out that while every country reserves the right to determine its immigration policies, the principle of diplomatic reciprocity should not be overlooked. He stressed that Canada’ s refusal to grant visas to top Nigerian military officials was not a minor issue but a broader indictment of the country’ s international standing.
” Without having all the details at my disposal, I must say that such an action, even on the surface, appears highly inappropriate. The principle of reciprocity is a fundamental aspect of international relations, and it must be taken seriously, ” Tunji- Ojo stated.
He acknowledged that nations have sovereign rights over migration and border control but emphasized that these policies should be applied with consideration for diplomatic ties.
” We do not seek to interfere in the sovereignty of other nations, but visa regulations and immigration decisions must reflect the respect that exists between two allied nations.
A visa rejection of this magnitude, involving the Chief of Defence Staff, raises serious questions about the nature of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Canada, ” he added.
Implications For Nigerian Citizens
Tunji- Ojo further argued that the issue extends beyond General Musa as an individual, stating that such an action reflects poorly on Canada’ s perception of Nigeria as a whole.
” This is not just about the Chief of Defence Staff being denied a visa. This is about Nigeria. If the highest- ranking military officer of our nation can be treated this way, what does it mean for the ordinary Nigerian? If this can happen to a person of such high standing, then I genuinely worry about the experiences of everyday citizens applying for visas, ” he remarked.
The minister criticized what he perceived as a lack of consideration by the Canadian authorities, saying that any concerns they might have had could have been handled through diplomatic channels rather than outright visa rejection.
” There are established back channels for handling such matters. If there were any concerns regarding General Musa or his delegation, those concerns could have been addressed at the diplomatic level rather than resorting to a refusal. Nigeria and Canada have long- standing diplomatic relations, and it is expected that such a relationship would translate into mutual respect, ” he stated.
Federal Government To Address The Situation
In light of the controversy, Tunji- Ojo assured that the Nigerian government would not take the matter lightly. He emphasized that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would engage its Canadian counterparts to seek clarification and ensure that such diplomatic oversights do not occur in the future.
” Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs will certainly take this up. These kinds of incidents cannot be ignored. There must be an explanation, and going forward, there must be mutual respect in how our officials and citizens are treated in international dealings, ” he affirmed.
The minister reiterated that Nigeria would not tolerate any form of diplomatic disrespect, stressing that every country deserves fair treatment in global engagements.
” We must ensure that Nigeria is accorded the same level of respect that we extend to others. If Nigerian officials treat foreign dignitaries with dignity when they visit our country, then we should expect nothing less when we engage with other nations, ” he concluded.
Call For Diplomatic Review
The incident has sparked discussions about how Nigerian officials and citizens are treated in international visa processes. Many have called for a review of Nigeria’ s visa policies regarding foreign nationals to ensure that reciprocity is enforced.
Some analysts have suggested that Nigeria should reassess its diplomatic agreements with countries that routinely subject its citizens to stringent visa requirements, especially when such measures do not align with the mutual respect expected in international relations.
The development also raises broader concerns about the treatment of African nations in global diplomacy. Some observers argue that Western nations often impose restrictive policies on African countries while expecting unrestricted access for their own officials and citizens.
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