The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris says there is a renewed focus by the Tinubu administration towards addressing Nigeria’s security challenges to guarantee the safety and well-being of all citizens.
Speaking on CNN on Tuesday night, the Minister dismissed claims by some foreign officials suggesting that terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians.
Idris described such assertions as “misleading and not reflective of the country’s complex security realities.”
He said; “Some of the claims made by some officials of the United States are based on faulty data and assumptions that the victims of this violence are largely Christians.
“Yes, there are Christians being attacked, but these criminals do not just target one religion. They target Christians and also Muslims, especially in the northern part of the country.”
The Minister cautioned that those promoting such narratives risk playing into the hands of criminals whose ultimate goal is to incite religious conflict.
Idris emphasised that “Nigeria remains a tolerant nation where the right to freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Constitution.”
“Characterizing these acts as attacks on Christians will drive Nigeria towards division. The criminals want to portray the country as if there is a fight between Christians and Muslims,” he said.
The Minister further stressed that it is inaccurate to describe Nigeria as a nation that does not tolerate religious freedom or as an unsafe country.
“We have seen attacks on Christians and Muslims alike. It is wrong to label Nigeria as intolerant of religious freedom or unsafe. Nigeria is indeed a safe country,” he stated.
Security Challenges
While acknowledging existing security challenges, Idris said the Nigerian Government is tackling them decisively through renewed focus and sustained commitment.
“Yes, we have security challenges, but there is a massive government effort to ensure Nigeria becomes safe for everyone,” he stated.
According to him, Nigeria has been grappling with security issues since 2009, but in the last two years, there has been renewed determination to eliminate such threats.
“In the last two years, there has been a renewed focus to ensure Nigeria’s safety. The government has deployed significant resources to strengthen military capacity and is also investing in agriculture and social services to support a non-kinetic approach to national stability,” he said.
The Minister added that the recent changes in the leadership of the security agencies are aimed at reinforcing the nation’s security architecture to ensure timely and effective responses to emerging threats.
PR by Rabiu Ibrahim
Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation.
Wednesday, October 29, 2025