Canada may take required measures if it does not address the issue of denying visas to certain high-ranking military personnel, such as General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, according to a senior official in the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). It is our responsibility to protect innocent Nigerians, not to harm them—CDS Military Warned by Musa Recall that the military authorities had received an invitation to a Canadian gala honoring veterans of war. However, some delegation members were granted visas, while others were sent away, which left them disappointed and irritated.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Although the Canadian High Commission acknowledged media reports about the visa denials on Friday, it clarified that privacy concerns prevented it from commenting on the matter. Speaking to Punch about the issue, a top NIS official who asked to remain anonymous said that Nigeria may take action by denying Canadians entry to its borders if the Canadian embassy does not handle the situation properly.
“It used to be a minor problem, but now it’s a big one,” he remarked. Protocol officers for high-ranking officials, such as the CDS, usually get a Note Verbale and send it to the embassy with their passports when they have to travel. Some people, however, might not need it in an emergency.”It used to be a minor problem, but now it’s a big one,” he remarked. Protocol officers for high-ranking officials, such as the CDS, usually get a Note Verbale and send it to the embassy with their passports when they have to travel. Some people, however, might not need it in an emergency.
It would have been proper for the Canadian embassy to confirm the identity of the Chief of Defense Staff with the authorized authorities if he had applied for a visa without a Note Verbale. “It is offensive to deny the CDS a visa.” The possible reaction was compared by the source to a comparable move earlier this year in which Nigeria retaliated against South Africa by excluding a South African plane carrying dignitaries.
“The response will be significant if the Canadian embassy does not handle this situation properly,” the official stated. Nigeria might also begin preventing Canadians from entering the nation. When they turned back a lot of Nigerians a few months ago, we did something similar with South Africa. The South African president stepped in right away when a South African flight carrying dignitaries was turned back at the Lagos airport. The Canadian embassy ought to exercise caution.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
