By Abiola Olawale
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has voiced concern over what he described as the damaging impact of the “Christian genocide” narrative on Nigeria’s international image.
This is as the Minister claimed that the country’s complex security challenges are being falsely simplified as religious persecution.
Speaking at the Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi, Tuggar also rejected allegations that the Nigerian government is complicit in or facilitating violent attacks against Christians.
He contended that such claims are not only inaccurate but also actively harm Nigeria’s reputation and its efforts to seek constructive international engagement.
Tuggar stated: “One of our major challenges at the moment is the false narratives that are being created about Nigeria, this issue of religious persecution, Christians are being persecuted, which couldn’t be further from the truth,” the minister noted, according to a Reuters report on Wednesday.
He added that potential “investors need to come and see for themselves.”
The New Diplomat reports that the minister’s comments came amid a surge in claims and commentary from some United States political figures accusing the Federal Government of allowing or supporting targeted attacks against Christians.
However, the Nigerian government has repeatedly dismissed these accusations.
