Visa War? Nigeria Threatens Retaliation Against Canada Over Visa Denials

A senior official of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has issued a warning that Nigeria may take retaliatory action if Canada fails to address the recent visa denials affecting senior military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The affected military officials had been invited to a war veterans’ event in Canada, but while some members of the delegation were granted visas, others were denied entry—leading to frustration and disappointment.

On Friday, the Canadian High Commission acknowledged media reports on the visa denials but stated that it could not comment on the issue due to privacy concerns.

Speaking to Punch, a senior NIS official, who requested anonymity, warned that if the Canadian embassy fails to resolve the situation appropriately, Nigeria could retaliate by denying entry to Canadian nationals at its borders.

“What started as a minor issue has now escalated into a serious diplomatic concern. When high-ranking officials such as the CDS require travel clearance, their protocol officers typically submit a Note Verbale alongside their passports. However, in urgent cases, some individuals may not need it,” the official explained.

“For someone of the Chief of Defence Staff’s stature to apply for a visa without a Note Verbale, the proper response from the Canadian embassy should have been to verify his identity with the relevant authorities. Denying the CDS a visa is a direct insult.”

Drawing a comparison to a previous diplomatic dispute, the official referenced Nigeria’s retaliation against South Africa earlier this year, where a South African airline carrying dignitaries was turned back at Lagos airport after South Africa denied entry to a large number of Nigerians.

“If the Canadian embassy does not handle this matter properly, Nigeria’s response will be decisive. We may begin turning away Canadian nationals at our borders, just as we did with South Africa. Their embassy should tread carefully,” the source warned.