FG condemns US designation of Nigeria as 'country of concern on religious freedom'

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has condemned the designation ascribed to the country by the United States government.

While condemning the designation in a statement on Tuesday December 8, 2020, the Ministry stated that it was wrong for the US government to ascribe such designation to a secular country under a democratic government.

“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to an announcement made by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, stating that the Government of the United States of America has designated Nigeria as a ‘country of concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998′,” the statement reads.

It adds, “The Federal Government of Nigeria received the news with surprise, that a secular country under a democratic government would be so designated.

“Although the Nigerian State is multi-religious and multi-ethnic, the Nigerian constitution expressly states that the Government shall not adopt any religion as State religion.”

It states further that section 38 of the country’s constitution clearly guarantees that every Nigerian citizen is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion including freedom to change his/her religion or belief and freedom to manifest and propagate his/her religion or belief.

“Religious liberty in Nigeria has never been in question, therefore any claim contrary to that is completely talse and untrue,” the statement says.

It states that the Nigerian Government remains committed to ensuring the respect and protection of all citizens’ rights to religious freedom and promotion of religious tolerance and harmony.

The Ministry therefore assured that the Nigerian Government will engage the U.S. Government to express its displeasure and request that Nigeria be removed from the list.