Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese has appealed to the United States government to avoid labeling Nigeria once again as a country of particular concern, warning that such a move could slow the progress being made toward improving religious freedom.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Speaking at the Vatican during the unveiling of the Aid to the Church in Need 2025 report on global religious freedom, Kukah argued that a redesignation would create setbacks rather than solutions. He said many Nigerians already feel exposed and unprotected, and the added pressure from international sanctions could worsen the situation.
The “country of particular concern” label is reserved for nations accused of severe and consistent violations of religious rights. In recent months, some US lawmakers have called for Nigeria to be sanctioned over allegations of discrimination and violence against Christians.
Kukah acknowledged that Nigeria still faces serious religious challenges, citing the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari as the most difficult period in the nation’s interfaith history. He, however, maintained that ongoing local and international efforts are beginning to yield positive results and should not be disrupted.
