FG – “Nigeria Does Not Have A Religious Persecution Policy”

The Federal Government has replied to the  earlier claims made by the United States

The US government stated that  Nigeria has been engaging in systematic, ongoing, egregious religious freedom violations.

The US under the administration of Donald Trump also included Nigeria in a blacklist of countries that violate religious freedoms, as a dress rehearsal.

He called for sanctions for Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and largest economy.

United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, earlier wrote on his Twitter page that

“today the U.S. designates Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, the DPRK, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as countries of concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for engaging systematic, ongoing, egregious religious freedom violations”...

The Federal Government of Nigeria has however denied such allegations.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said Nigeria did not have a policy of religious persecution.

The minister described the allegation as a case of honest disagreement between the two nations on the causes of violence in Nigeria.

“Nigeria does not engage in religious freedom violation, neither does it have a policy of religious persecution.

“Victims of insecurity and terrorism in the country are adherents of Christianity, Islam and other religions,’’ he said.

Mohammed said Nigeria jealously protects religious freedom as enshrined in the country’s constitution and takes seriously any infringements in this regard.

The U.S., reportedly on Monday placed Nigeria on a religious freedom blacklist.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated Nigeria as “Country of Particular Concern’’ for religious freedom, alongside nations that include China, Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Pompeo, however, did not elaborate on the reasons for including Nigeria on the list.