Abuja — The Federal Government has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom and the fight against violent extremism, following a recent statement by the United States on the subject.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said Nigeria had noted the U.S. position and remained determined to confront extremism and defend all citizens, regardless of faith, race, or creed.
“We remain committed in our resolve to tackle the violent extremism that is fueled by special interests who have helped drive such decay and division in countries across the intersecting West African and Sahel regions,” the statement read.
The Ministry expressed sympathy for victims of extremist violence and praised Nigeria’s armed forces for their courage in protecting the nation. It described diversity as Nigeria’s greatest strength and emphasized the country’s respect for faith, tolerance, and inclusion.
“Nigeria is a God-fearing country where we respect faith, tolerance, diversity, and inclusion, in concurrence with the rules-based international order,” Ebienfa added.
Reaffirming the long-standing partnership between both countries, the Ministry said Nigeria and the United States would continue to maintain close ties under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, anchored on shared values of peace, stability, and democracy.
