The Federal Government has commended the United States for removing Nigeria from its list of countries with religious freedom concerns, calling the decision fair and just.
United States during the week removed Nigeria from its religious freedom blacklist.
Countries on the blacklist, according to the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, are “Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.”
They are categorised as Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”
In a statement yesterday, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed reiterated his earlier stand, when Nigeria was put on the list last year, that Nigeria does not engage in religious freedom violation or
have a policy of religious persecution.
The minister argued Nigeria jealously protects religious freedom as enshrined in the country’s constitution and takes seriously any infringements in that regard.
He said ”We will continue to ensure that every Nigerian has the freedom to practise his or her own chosen religion or belief without hindrance,”,
Lai Mohammed commended religious leaders in the country who have been working to ensure religious harmony.
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