Tuggar: Why it’s impossible for Nigeria to support religious persecution

Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, says it is “impossible” for the Nigerian government to persecute any citizen on the basis of religion.

Tuggar spoke on Tuesday in Berlin during a meeting with Johann Wadephul, Germany’s foreign affairs minister, amid renewed concerns over alleged religious violence in Nigeria.

His remarks follow the recent decision by United States President Donald Trump to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern”, accusing the government of failing to curb attacks against Christians.

But Tuggar said Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and firmly upholds the rule of law, making any form of state-backed persecution unthinkable.

“This (the constitution) is what shows that it is impossible for there to be a religious persecution that can be supported in any way, shape, or form by the government of Nigeria at any level — be it federal, regional, or local. It is impossible,” the minister said.

He reaffirmed that Nigeria remains committed to protecting the rights of all citizens, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and to working with international partners to strengthen peace, tolerance, and national unity.