The Nigerian government says national security remains its top priority under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration..
This was made known on Wednesday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, during a briefing for members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja.
He said that the Nigerian government has been combining military strength, intelligence, diplomacy, and community engagement in the fight against insurgents.
The Minister noted that the recent designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ by the United States, based on speculations of religious persecution of Christians, was false, baseless, and without facts.
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, said that the designation was fundamentally misinformed.
He said Nigeria remains a global exemplar of religious plurality and democratic endurance.
On security, the Minister stated that advanced surveillance technologies are being deployed to combat banditry and kidnapping, while community-based peace building and the national early warning
and response system are enhancing conflict prevention.
According to him, the civil-military cooperation has strengthened trust, improved intelligence gathering, and reduced the recruitment of extremists in Nigeria.
It was also highlighted that Christian and Muslim institutions operate freely, promoting peaceful coexistence, and interfaith harmony through institutions such as the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, the Christian Association of Nigeria, and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
Olusola Akintonde