The Federal Government has assured both Nigerians and the international community that it is responding responsibly to the concerns raised by the United States over Nigeria’s designation as a “country of particular concern” on religious freedom.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this while briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday. He emphasized that although the issue was discussed at the meeting, there is no cause for panic, as the government remains calm, stable, and committed to ensuring the safety and freedom of all citizens.
“The government of Nigeria is responding to the genuine concerns raised. The politics of it aside, we genuinely are taking the issues seriously,” the Minister said. “Even before these recent developments, government has been committed to ensuring that Nigeria is safe for everyone.”
Idris stressed that every Nigerian life matters and that the constitution guarantees the right of all citizens to practice their faith freely. “The killing of even one Nigerian citizen is of concern to the government. Wherever there is violence affecting any citizen, government has the responsibility to tackle it,” he said.
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Reaffirming the administration’s stability, the Minister noted that President Bola Tinubu and members of the Federal Executive Council are calm and united in addressing the nation’s challenges. “Yes, there are security issues in some parts of the country, and people have been affected. But government is responding with the greatest sense of responsibility, maintaining the balance needed to confront these issues head-on,” he added.
On Nigeria’s engagement with the U.S., Idris disclosed that diplomatic channels have been opened to address the matter constructively. “We prefer that this situation is solved diplomatically. We don’t want to escalate rhetoric. The responsibility we have is to ensure our citizens’ safety while maintaining our dignity as a sovereign nation,” he said.
He reiterated that terrorism and violent extremism are global challenges that transcend national borders, hence Nigeria’s continued cooperation with regional and international partners, including the United States.
“There is no panic mode here,” Idris assured. “We are responding responsibly, steadily, and in the interest of our country, while taking into account both internal and external concerns.”
He concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s long-standing reputation for religious tolerance. “Let me say for the umpteenth time: Nigeria remains a country that has tolerance for religion and will continue to uphold that constitutional right,” he said.