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The Nigerian government has criticized Canada for denying visas to its senior military officers, including the country’s head of the military.
Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Christopher Musa stated that his delegation was supposed to attend an event in Canada to honour war veterans, but only half of the officers were able to get visas.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu criticized the move as "disrespectful" and voiced his frustration, stating that Canada "can go to hell." "If that can happen to the Chief of Defense Staff, then I am worried for an average Nigerian,” stated Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria confirmed its awareness of the situation but did not provide specifics due to privacy concerns. This comes after Canada implemented new regulations allowing immigration officers to revoke temporary resident documents under certain conditions to strengthen border security, ensure visa program integrity, and safeguard public safety.
The Nigerian military has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by human rights organizations in its battle against Boko Haram. Nigerian military officials have visited Sri Lanka multiple times since the end of its armed conflict, with reports suggesting they considered adopting Sri Lanka’s military strategy against Tamils in their fight against Boko Haram. In 2018, Amnesty International documented cases of sexual violence, forced prostitution, and the military’s failure to provide sufficient food, water, and healthcare. That same year, the Nigerian army received training from Sri Lanka’s military, which was then led by —an officer sanctioned by the United States for gross human rights violations.
