The Minister of Data and Nationwide Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has mentioned that there’s a renewed focus by the Tinubu administration in the direction of addressing Nigeria’s safety challenges to ensure the security and well-being of all residents.
Talking on CNN on Tuesday, Idris dismissed claims by some international officers suggesting that terrorists in Nigeria goal solely Christians, describing such assertions as deceptive and never reflective of the nation’s advanced safety realities, and the truth that the precise to freedom of faith is enshrined within the nation’s structure.
“A few of the claims made by some officers of the US are based mostly on defective knowledge and a few assumptions that the victims of this violence are largely Christians. Sure! There are Christians being attacked, however these criminals don’t simply goal one faith. They aim Christians. In addition they goal Muslims. We have now seen that particularly within the northern a part of the nation,” he mentioned.
These purveying such narratives, he added, had been unwittingly enjoying into the palms of criminals whose final goal is to incite battle between Christians and Muslims within the nation.
Idris burdened that Nigeria stays a extremely tolerant nation with respect to freedom of faith, warning that selling a false narrative of intolerance might inadvertently sow division between Christians and Muslims within the nation.
“Characterising it as assaults on Christians will drive Nigeria in the direction of division. The criminals need to painting the nation as if there’s a battle between Christians and Muslims.
“We have now seen assaults on Christians. We have now additionally seen assaults on Muslims as nicely. However it’s also mistaken to characterise Nigeria as a rustic that doesn’t tolerate spiritual freedom, and it’s additionally mistaken to say that all over the place just isn’t secure in Nigeria. Nigeria is certainly a secure nation,” he mentioned.
The Minister acknowledged that whereas safety challenges exist within the nation, the federal government was tackling them decisively and with sustained dedication.
“Sure, certainly, we’ve got seen safety challenges in Nigeria, however we even have to acknowledge that there’s a huge drive by the federal government to make sure that Nigeria is finally secure for everybody,” he mentioned.
He famous that Nigeria has been grappling with safety challenges since 2009, however defined that previously two years, there was renewed momentum and willpower to eradicate these threats.
“Within the final two years, there was a renewed focus and renewed consideration has been put to make sure that Nigeria turns into secure. We have now a large deployment of assets to enhance our army {hardware}. We have now additionally seen investments in different sectors comparable to agriculture and social providers to make sure that the non-kinetic method contributes to the steadiness of our nation.
“Even the latest modifications (of service chiefs) are all geared in the direction of strengthening our safety structure to make sure that the federal government responds to each state of affairs,” the Minister acknowledged.
