Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has demanded that his interview with Piers Morgan, renowned British broadcaster and host of ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’, be broadcast in its entirety, uncensored.
Tuggar said he spoke on the show to offer “a factual and contextual perspective on the misleading narratives and allegations of religious persecution in Nigeria” on Wednesday.
“My explanations, supported by verifiable data, may not have conformed to certain preconceived views,” he added.
Tuggar said his call for a full airing of the interview is in keeping with integrity and transparency benchmarks.
“Nigeria’s truth must not be distorted to fit external biases,” the minister said.
The interview has yet to be posted on Morgan’s YouTube channel.
Tuggar is one of several Nigerian government officials denying reports of Christian persecution in Africa’s most populous country.
During a meeting with his German colleague, Johann Wadephul, in Berlin last week, the minister stated that it is “impossible” for the Nigerian government to persecute any individual based on faith.
He also stated that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees religious freedom and maintains the rule of law, making state-sponsored persecution inconceivable.
Concerns about suspected religious violence grew in March when the United States Congress heard suggestions from senators wanting to impose sanctions on Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC).
In April, Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs commissioned a research that described charges of Christian genocide in the country as a hazardous, singular, linear narrative.
According to the research, Nigerian authorities have remained dedicated to safeguarding secular ideals while also fostering religious freedom and interfaith dialogue.
“Rather than perpetuating a narrative that reinforces divisions and fuels further violence, analysts need to adopt a more nuanced and balanced understanding that recognizes Nigeria’s ethno-religious dynamics and the many efforts underway to promote peace, tolerance and coexistence,” the report said.
Despite these efforts, US President Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” on October 31, accusing the government of failing to prevent attacks on Christians.
