ABUJA – Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has rejected claims that the country sent a large contingent of athletes and officials to the Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada. Speaking in Abuja while hosting the victorious athletes, General Musa clarified that Nigeria’s military had been invited to the event, and all necessary protocols were followed during the visa application process, which involved key government bodies like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Adviser.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!General Musa, who was denied a visa to the games alongside other officers, expressed his disappointment at the Canadian Embassy’s actions. He revealed that key members of the Nigerian team, including the captain, a medical doctor, and a physiotherapist, were also denied visas for reasons unknown to him, a situation he described as disrespectful.
Despite the visa issues, General Musa praised the Nigerian athletes for their courage and resilience at the Invictus Games.
Earlier, at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies, General Musa had disclosed that the Canadian Embassy had refused him and other senior military officers visas to attend an event honoring war veterans in Canada. The refusal led to strong reactions from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who criticized Canada for its treatment of Nigeria’s military leaders.
Ribadu expressed his displeasure, saying, “They can go to hell,” calling the visa denials disrespectful. He emphasized that despite the setback, Nigeria remains peaceful and strong and reaffirmed the importance of improving the nation. Ribadu also commended General Musa for his leadership in the fight against insecurity, highlighting the collaboration among security agencies across the country.
