Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, has called on the United States to avoid redesignating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over religious freedom issues. Speaking at the launch of the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom in the World at the Augustinianum Hall in Vatican City, Bishop Kukah warned that such a move could undermine ongoing efforts to promote dialogue, national healing, and interfaith understanding under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s challenges with violence, discrimination, and insecurity, Bishop Kukah emphasized that redesignating the country as a CPC would “hurt the initiatives we are working on” and could “increase tensions, sow doubt, open windows of suspicion and fear, and simply allow the criminals and perpetrators of violence to exploit.”
Bishop Kukah recognized that Nigeria has faced significant issues with religious persecution in the past, particularly during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He noted that the Buhari administration’s policies “gave oxygen to jihadists through policies that overtly favored Islam and northern Nigeria.”
However, he commended the Tinubu administration for its efforts to promote inclusivity, citing the appointment of Christians to strategic national positions as “confidence-building measures that inspire a sense of belonging.”
Despite ongoing challenges, Bishop Kukah expressed optimism about the future, urging global institutions to recognize the complexity of Nigeria’s struggles and to assist in rebuilding trust among its diverse communities. He emphasized that Nigeria’s path forward should involve support and encouragement, rather than punishment and isolation. In conclusion, Bishop Kukah appealed for constructive international engagement, including support for Nigeria’s military to combat jihadists and bandits, and urged the United States to lift restrictions that hinder Nigeria’s access to necessary resources to fight terrorism.
Kindly Share this News!!!