The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has expressed disappointment over Canada’s refusal to grant visas to the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa, and other senior military officials who were set to attend an event honoring Nigerian veterans in Canada. Matawalle described the visa denial as a serious disrespect to Nigeria’s national dignity and called for a firm diplomatic response.
Matawalle emphasized the need for an urgent investigation into the reasons behind the visa denials and stressed the importance of Nigeria taking decisive diplomatic actions. He warned that the incident could have implications for the relationship between the two nations if not addressed appropriately.
The minister highlighted the broader concerns raised by the visa rejections and their potential impact on how Nigerian military officials and government representatives are treated in international engagements. He underscored the significance of maintaining bilateral relations between Nigeria and Canada and urged all relevant stakeholders to prevent such occurrences in the future to uphold Nigeria’s global standing.