By Ali Elias
The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has addressed reports of visa denials for Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa and other top military officials. In a brief statement on its X (formerly Twitter) page, the commission stated:
“The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is aware of media reports related to planned travel to Canada by senior officials. However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to provide any comment on the status of visa applications of specific individuals.”
As a follow up, a report by The Nation suggests that the visa denials resulted from a diplomatic error. According to the report, the affected military officials failed to include a Note Verbale (Diplomatic Note) from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a requirement for high-ranking government officials traveling abroad.
A top government source, speaking anonymously, confirmed the oversight:
“There was a diplomatic error on the part of desk officers who handled the CDS and others’ visa applications. There was no Note Verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, contrary to protocol for senior officials’ trips.”
The source emphasized that the Federal Government is actively working to resolve the matter:
“The government is discussing with Canadian Embassy officials to salvage the situation. There is no diplomatic issue with Canada—this is simply an administrative mix-up.” While this appears to be a procedural lapse rather than a diplomatic dispute, the incident highlights the importance of adhering to established diplomatic protocols. As discussions continue, it remains to be seen whether the visa applications will be reconsidered.