The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has declared that Nigeria will not tolerate disrespect from any country towards its citizens, stressing that the nation deserves recognition on the global stage.
Speaking at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, General Musa dismissed claims that the Nigerian Armed Forces were not invited to the Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada—an international event founded by the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry.
Addressing the visa denial faced by several Nigerian team members, the CDS revealed that the Federal Government is taking action to resolve the issue.
“On the issue of the visa denial, it must be tackled on all fronts, and I am happy the Federal Government is taking up the matter,” he said.
He explained that the Nigerian military followed all necessary procedures and that top government officials, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, and the National Security Adviser, were fully aware of the invitation and preparations for the games.
“We followed all the necessary processes, but for reasons best known to them, most of our team members were denied visas. The team captain, the medical doctor, and the physiotherapist were all denied entry. Why?”
General Musa insisted that Nigeria would not accept any form of disrespect or unfair treatment and called for mutual respect between nations.
Commending the wounded soldiers for their resilience and dedication, he assured them that injured military personnel would not be abandoned.
“Your courage and determination have left an indelible mark. You are true embodiments of the Nigerian spirit—unconquered, unbroken, and unstoppable,” he said.
He also pledged continuous support and resources to ensure the well-being and reintegration of injured personnel into civilian life.
“Whatever it takes to raise the morale of our troops, we will do it, no matter the cost,” he added.
Despite the challenges, 15 wounded Nigerian military personnel who participated in the Invictus Games returned to Nigeria on Wednesday with six medals.
They were welcomed by General Musa and other top military officials at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Air Vice Marshal Nanjul Kumzhi, Director of Sports at the Defence Headquarters, highlighted that Nigeria was the first and only African nation to participate in the Invictus Games and would also compete in the 2027 edition in Birmingham.
AVM Kumzhi lamented the visa denials by the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, revealing that out of the 25-man team, only 14 members were granted visas.
“Despite the unfair treatment by the embassy, we came home with six medals during the games,” he said.
The Nigerian team secured gold, silver, and bronze medals in various sporting events.
The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women, including serving personnel and veterans.
The Duke of Sussex, inspired by his visit to the Warrior Games in America in 2013, launched the Invictus Games to support injured soldiers. He also visited Nigeria in 2024.
