Minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has called on Canada and Saudi Arabia to resolve the ‘hiccup’ in their hitherto very friendly relations and be mindful of each other’s principles and sensitivities.
The minister made the call when the Charge d’Affairs of the High Commission of Canada to Nigeria, James Christoff, paid him a visit earlier today to discuss bilateral issues, including the tragic death of a Nigerian national who died while being deported from Canada.
At the meeting, the minister raised the issue of the ‘hiccup’ in relations between both countries and expressed optimism that it would be resolved soon, adding that both countries have very close ties with Nigeria.
The diplomatic row between Saudi Arabia and Canada was caused by a tweet, in which Canadian Foreign Minister criticized the Gulf kingdom’s human rights record, following the arrest of 11 right activists in Saudi Arabia. The worsening feud has now led to the suspension of direct Saudi flights to Canada.
Saudi Arabia accused Canada of interfering in its internal affairs with the tweets that called on the Gulf kingdom to release detained “civil society activists.”
The feud has only worsened, with media in both countries taking hardened positions on the side of their respective governments.
The Saudis have reportedly expelled Canada’s ambassador and recalled their own envoy from Ottawa, ordered home 15,000 scholarship students studying at Canadian universities and hospitals, and frozen bilateral trade and investment, including halting barley and wheat imports.
