Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), has just had his first taste of what ordinary Nigerians endure daily at foreign embassies. And, oh, how it stings!

His outburst yesterday—“They can go to hell!”—after Canada denied visas to Nigeria’s defence chief, Christopher Musa, and other top military officers, is nothing short of poetic justice. Welcome, dear sir, to the world of humiliation, endless rejections, and embassy-induced heartbreaks that regular Nigerians face while trying to escape the mess your ruling class has turned the country into.

For years, ordinary citizens have been treated like unwanted visitors by embassies worldwide, all thanks to the woeful state of the nation. From students seeking education abroad, to professionals looking for greener pastures, and even sick Nigerians desperate for medical treatment—the visa process is a game of dice, with rejection the default outcome. Why? Because Nigeria, under the stewardship of its political and military elite, has been reduced to a global punchline.

Yet, here we are, watching top government officials, who have long enjoyed their privileged access to the world, suddenly getting a taste of reality. How does it feel, sir? Does it burn? Does it frustrate? Perhaps, next time, instead of railing against Canada, you could channel that anger into fixing Nigeria—so that its passport means something, and our people aren’t treated like international orphans.

That said, Canada, calm down!This isn’t the moment for excessive arrogance. After all, your own international reputation isn’t exactly soaring at this time. The Americans mock you at every turn, and Donald Trump, the current U.S. president, routinely ridicules you as nothing more than a glorified northern outpost of America. Several times, he jibbed that Canada should be incorporated as the 51st state of the U.S. Maybe you should focus on that humiliation before flexing unnecessary muscle over visa decisions.

Still, for Ribadu and his ilk, this should be a wake-up call. The world sees Nigeria as a failing state because those in power have made it one. If you don’t want to suffer further indignities, then fix the country.