Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, recently made headlines with his blunt response to Canada’s refusal to grant visas to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa and other top military officers:
“They (Embassy of Canada) can go to hell!”
His frustration was clear, but Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, Executive Director of the Nigerian Law Society (NLS), has offered a fresh perspective—one that we at Newspot Nigeria find worth exploring.
A Visa Denial That May Have Saved Nigeria $200,000
According to Dr. Jaja, while the visa rejection may have caused disappointment in official circles, it also prevented Nigeria from spending an estimated $200,000 on travel expenses, including flights, accommodation, and estacodes for at least ten senior military officials.
Dr. Jaja explains:
“Contrary to his angst, the NSA is supposed to have expressed gratitude to the Embassy of Canada for denying visas to the said military officials and thereby saving Nigeria the total sum of over $200,000 which could have been spent on visa, hotel accommodation, air flight tickets, and estacodes.”
This raises an important question: Was this trip truly necessary?
While international engagements have their place, this particular visit was for an honorary event rather than urgent military training. With pressing economic and security challenges at home, it’s worth considering whether this expenditure would have been a justifiable priority.
Could This Money Support Nigerian Veterans Instead?
Dr. Jaja also makes a strong case for redirecting these funds to support Nigeria’s own military veterans, many of whom have been calling for increased pensions and better welfare.
“The said $200,000 that could be deployed to honor our Nigerian military veterans, who since last year have been begging the federal government of Nigeria to increase their pensions.”
His argument echoes that of Retired Colonel Hassan Stan-Labo, who has repeatedly urged the federal government to review veterans’ benefits, describing current payouts as “sheer peanuts.”
A Different Perspective on the Controversy
While Ribadu’s frustration with the visa denial is understandable, Dr. Jaja’s argument forces a reassessment of our national priorities. If this incident has prevented unnecessary spending, shouldn’t the focus now be on ensuring that these funds are channeled toward the welfare of Nigerian veterans who actually need them?
At Newspot Nigeria, we recognize that diplomatic snubs can be frustrating, but they can also present opportunities for better financial decisions. Perhaps this is one of them.
For more insights and analysis, stay with Newspot Nigeria.
“Ribadu’s “Go To Hell” Speech And How The Embassy of Canada saved over $200,000 that Can Be used for Nigeria’s Military Veterans”
By
Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja,
Executive Director,
Nigerian Law Society (NLS).
Between the years 2012 and 2022, I was a visiting law lecturer on their annual legislative drafting course at the School of Law, Kiit University, Orissa State, India.
Once every one of those years, I would fly Ethiopia airlines with a stop over at New Delhi. One one of those trips, I bought a book at the airport to read while waiting.
The title of the book is: “100 Speeches that Shaped The World” by Colin Slater (2019).
Amongst the 100 speeches are the “But it Moves” speech by Galileo Galilee; the “I have A Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Sermon on The Mount by Jesus Christ, just to mention a few!!!
Perhaps in the second edition of this book, they should consider adding the recent speech by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
It will be remembered and go down in history as short and direct, to the point: “They (Embassy of Canada) can Go To Hell”!!!
The circumstances and background to the said speech was recently reported as follows:
“The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has expressed outrage against Canadian embassy for denying Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and other army chiefs visas.
Speaking at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), in collaboration with the Department of State Service (DSS), Ribadu said the North American country “can go to hell”.
Contrary to his angst, the NSA is supposed to have expressed gratitude to the Embassy of Canada for denying visas to the said military officials and thereby saving Nigeria the total sum of over $200,000 which could have been spent on visa, hotel accommodation, airflght tickets and estacodes assuming that visas were granted to ten (10) top military officials at the rate of $20,000 per top military official!!!
What was the purpose of the proposed trip to Canada, it was not to undergo essential military training, it was for the purpose of attending a ceremony to honour military veterans (not specified whether they are Nigerian military veterans).
Is this a top priority for Nigeria right now?
The said $200,000 that could be deployed to honour our Nigerian military veterans who since last year have been begging the federal government of Nigeria to increase their pensions.
Perhaps the NSA should write a letter of appreciation to the Embassy of Canada in Nigeria for saving funds for the federal government of Nigeria, (which ought to be deployed for our Nigerian military veterans) after he reads this below:
“It’s Sheer Peanuts,’ Ex-Army Officer Asks FG To Review Veterans’ Benefits
On the heels of Armed Forces Remembrance Day commemorated in Nigeria on Sunday, retired Col. Hassan Stan-Labo has called on the Federal Government to review the benefits and gratuities of military veterans.”
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