The United States (US) on Wednesday removed Nigeria from its list of countries with religious freedom concerns, reported Reuters. The announcement comes just a day before Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Nigeria as part of a tour of Africa.
Washington had last year included Nigeria in its special watch list of states that had engaged in or tolerated the severe violation of religious freedom.
Nigeria’s name has been cut from the 2021 list which has China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
Algeria, Comoros, Cuba, and Nicaragua are also on the special list of governments that have violated religious freedom, according to the US state department.
The US has also designated Russia, as well as China and eight other states, as countries of concern “for having engaged in or tolerated ‘systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.'”
Although Nigeria has been excluded from the list, the jihadist groups Boko Haram and Iswap operating in the northeast part of the African country are still designated as entities of particular concern.
The United States will not waiver in its commitment to advocate for freedom of religion or belief for all and in every country,” Mr. Blinken said in a statement.
He said the US will continue to pressurize all governments to remedy shortcomings in their laws and practices, and to promote accountability for those responsible for abuses.
Mr. Blinken is visiting Nigeria on Thursday in his three-nation trip that includes Kenya and Senegal. The US official is expected to meet Nigerian President Muhamadu Buhari and other Nigerian cabinet members to discuss how both countries can further co-operate on security, economic growth, global health, and expanding energy access.
Nigeria is currently facing a number of security threats, including the long-running Boko Haram insurgency, inter-communal clashes and more recently, a wave of mass abductions at schools by armed gangs.
