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Nigeria Defends Religious Freedom After U.S. Criticism

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Nigeria defends religious freedom

Nigeria defends religious freedom after U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore labels it “deadliest” for Christians. Presidency calls claims ignorant and unfounded.

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Nigeria religious freedom has come under renewed international scrutiny after U.S. Congressman Riley Moore described the country as “the deadliest place in the world for Christians.”

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But the Nigerian Presidency has strongly dismissed the allegations, branding them ignorant and disconnected from reality.

Presidential aide Olusegun Dada issued a blistering response via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, saying Moore’s remarks betray a complete lack of understanding about Nigeria’s religious dynamics.

“Firstly, let me say, Congressman Riley, you are ignorant — if not more ignorant than Ted Cruz — about Nigeria,” Dada wrote.

Dada asserted that no faith is under siege in the country, stressing Nigeria’s legacy as a diverse and resilient nation, where churches, mosques, and traditional shrines coexist peacefully across communities.

“Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side — not as rivals, but as symbols of the unity that binds us,” he said.

The rebuke follows Riley Moore’s call on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to designate Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing reports of religious violence, including the deaths of over 50,000 Christians and the destruction of 19,000 churches since 2009.

Moore also alleged that some Nigerian state officials have tolerated or facilitated violence through enforcement of anti-blasphemy laws.

In support of Moore’s claims, Senator Ted Cruz made similar remarks earlier in the year, accusing the Nigerian government of complicity in religiously motivated violence.

However, Dada maintained that such narratives misrepresent the complex realities of Nigeria’s multi-faith society and downplay ongoing efforts by local authorities to address insecurity and protect all communities.

“Nigeria is a proud, sovereign nation built on the faith and resilience of its people,” he added.

Dada criticised the tendency of U.S. politicians to oversimplify foreign conflicts, referencing Ted Cruz’s past ignorance about Iran’s population and cultural dynamics.

“Same level of total ignorance now applied to Nigeria,” he concluded.

The clash underscores growing diplomatic sensitivity around international assessments of Nigeria’s human rights and religious climate.

Also read: Nigerian Marketing Awards Gains Prestigious NIPR Endorsement for 2025

While the Nigerian government continues to face internal security challenges, it firmly maintains that freedom of religion remains a constitutional right upheld across the country.

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Obasa Flags Off Agege APC Campaign With Mega Rally

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The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, has flagged off the All Progressives Congress campaign in Agege Federal Constituency with a mega rally at Amoo Field, Orile Agege.

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The rally, held on Wednesday, September 30, brought together APC leaders, party members, traditional and religious leaders, trade associations, artisans and representatives of different communities in the area.

Obasa, who is the APC candidate for the Agege Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, urged supporters to take the party’s campaign to homes, markets, artisan groups, places of worship and community associations ahead of the general election.

Addressing the gathering, he said the party should not be satisfied with a narrow victory but should seek to improve on its previous electoral performance.

“Let us join hands and make sure we deliver. It is not just about victory; we must surpass our previous votes. Sound it loud to everybody, all trade associations, artisans, tribes, religious and traditional leaders. We have the numbers, and we will pour it into the APC,” Obasa said.

He called on supporters to mobilise votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC governorship candidate in Lagos, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Lagos West senatorial candidate, Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule, and himself in the Agege Federal Constituency.

Obasa said the campaign message should reach different sections of the constituency before election day, with supporters expected to engage residents and encourage them to participate in the electoral process.

He also described the turnout at the rally as an indication of support and cohesion within the party in Agege.

“Agege is always one. And we will continue to be one. There is nothing wrong with our party in Agege,” he said, while dismissing opposition voices and rumours about the party’s structure in the area.

The Speaker also urged party members and supporters to avoid conflict during the campaign, stressing that voters should be allowed to choose their preferred representatives.

“We must try to avoid conflict, because at the end of the day, the people will vote for their representatives, the people they truly want. Nobody can force anyone on the people,” he said.

Obasa’s remarks come as political parties intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the general election, with Agege remaining an important constituency in Lagos’s political landscape.

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City Boy Movement Hails Tinubu’s Reforms at 66

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The Lagos State chapter of the City Boy Movement has felicitated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerians and Lagos residents on the occasion of the country’s 66th Independence anniversary, praising the administration’s economic and youth-focused reforms.

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In a goodwill message issued by the movement’s Lagos director, Barrister Moyosore Ogunlewe, the group said the Tinubu administration had recorded progress in infrastructure, economic diversification, youth empowerment and governance since assuming office.

Ogunlewe, who also serves as Zonal Director, Youth Mobilisation, South-West of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, acknowledged that the President was not perfect but argued that his administration had demonstrated the political will to tackle some of the country’s longstanding challenges.

“Like no one is perfect, President Tinubu is not perfect. Nevertheless, he has remained a kind-hearted leader with an exceptional eye for talents, putting round pegs in round holes,” he said.

He added that, in his view, the administration had demonstrated “vision and foresight” through the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The movement highlighted several youth-focused initiatives, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, 3 Million Technical Talent programme, Technical and Vocational Education and Training initiatives, NiYA, YouthCred, CrediCorp, the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund, iDICE and programmes implemented through SMEDAN.

Some of these initiatives have been publicly identified by the Federal Government as part of its efforts to expand access to education, digital skills, technical training, entrepreneurship and financing for young Nigerians. The government said in September that it was also targeting five million young Nigerians through skills acquisition and empowerment programmes under its National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy.

Ogunlewe also cited the administration’s electricity-sector reforms, data protection legislation, economic reforms and investments in healthcare and education as areas where he said the government had made progress.

He described the removal of petrol subsidy as a bold decision, arguing that it had reduced opportunities for corruption and freed government resources for development.

The subsidy removal, along with foreign exchange and other fiscal reforms, has remained one of the most significant and controversial parts of the Tinubu administration’s economic programme. While the government has argued that the measures were necessary to stabilise the economy, the reforms have also contributed to significant cost-of-living pressures, with the International Monetary Fund acknowledging improved macroeconomic outcomes while noting that conditions remain difficult for many Nigerians.

On the economy, Ogunlewe said the reforms were attracting investment, supporting job creation and laying the foundation for diversification.

The Presidency has similarly pointed to economic growth, improved external reserves, increased investment and reforms in the foreign exchange, fiscal and financial sectors as signs of progress. In the second quarter of 2026, Nigeria’s economy recorded 4.43 per cent year-on-year growth, according to figures cited by the President.

On security, the City Boy Movement said the administration had strengthened intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration while implementing social intervention programmes aimed at reducing hardship.

Ogunlewe also linked his assessment of Tinubu’s administration to his experience at the grassroots, saying he had learnt from the President’s approach to governance while bringing government closer to residents in Kosofe Local Government.

“I have learned a great deal from our President by bringing governance to our people in Kosofe Local Government – transparency, timely service delivery and cost-effectiveness,” he said.

The Lagos chapter of the movement was inaugurated in July with a stated focus on youth and grassroots mobilisation. At the inauguration, Ogunlewe said the organisation intended to promote youth participation, national unity and civic engagement beyond electoral campaigns.

The group has also openly positioned itself as a supporter of Tinubu’s administration and its 2027 re-election bid. The movement’s national leadership previously told the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, that it was committed to mobilising support for the administration’s programmes and initiatives.

As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, Ogunlewe called for continuity of the administration’s policies, saying he believed Tinubu’s record warranted another term in office.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the best for a united Nigeria at this critical point in our 66-year history. He deserves our full support for a second term to secure a brighter future and the continuity of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

The statement was signed by Hon. Kanbi Owolabi, Assistant Director, Print Media, City Boy Movement, Lagos State Chapter.

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NNPC, Dangote and Other Major Partners Back GOCOP’s 2027 Elections Conference

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NNPC

NNPC, NLNG, Customs and Dangote are among partners for the GOCOP 2026 conference on 8 October in Lagos, themed around the 2027 elections (more…)

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