‘We protect religious freedom jealously’ — FG reacts to US blacklisting Nigeria

The Nigerian government has denied the allegation that it engages in religious freedom violations.

On Monday, the United States blacklisted Nigeria for “engaging in systematic, ongoing, egregious religious freedom violations”.

Although the US did not state why Nigeria was blacklisted, Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State who announced the measure, said his country will continue to act when “religious freedom is attacked”.

But reacting in a statement on Tuesday, Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, 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,” he said.

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

The minister said the country “jealously protects religious freedom as enshrined in the country’s constitution and takes seriously any infringements in this regard”.