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‘They Can Go To Hell’: NSA Ribadu Blasts Canada Over Visa Denial
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.
Abuja, Nigeria – National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has strongly criticised the Canadian government for refusing visas to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and other top military officials.
Speaking at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja on Thursday, Ribadu expressed his disappointment, stating that Canada “can go to hell” for its actions.
His comments followed General Musa’s revelation that he and his team had been scheduled to attend an official event in Canada on Wednesday, aimed at honouring 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 said.
Reacting to the visa denial, Ribadu commeded the CDS for speaking out on the matter and emphasized the need for Nigeria to assert itself on the global stage.
The visa denials have sparked widespread reactions, with some analysts calling for diplomatic engagement to address the issue, while others see it as a sign of strained relations between Nigeria and Canada.
“Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell,” Ribadu 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.”
Ribadu, however, commended Musa for his leadership in the fight against insecurity, highlighting the ongoing collaboration among Nigeria’s security agencies to strengthen national security.
