The Federal Government has declined to comment on a proposed United States bill that seeks to address alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said on Wednesday.
The proposed legislation was introduced in the United States Congress and seeks to require action by the US Secretary of State regarding alleged religious persecution in Nigeria.
In recent months, some US lawmakers have drawn attention in Washington to concerns over violence affecting Christian communities in parts of Nigeria and debated potential measures in response.
Nigeria has previously been designated by the United States as a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act over claims of religious freedom violations.
When asked about the proposed US bill on Wednesday, Minister Mohammed Idris declined to make any comment on the matter.
The bill reportedly would require periodic assessments of actions taken by both the United States and the Nigerian government related to religious freedom concerns, including violence impacting Christians and others.
The proposed legislation is co-sponsored by several US lawmakers and follows earlier congressional attention to issues of violence and religious freedom in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government’s representative did not provide further details on its position regarding the specific proposals in the bill when asked by reporters.
The government’s decision not to comment formally on the US bill leaves open how Nigeria might respond to any future actions by the United States relating to the proposed legislation.
The matter has drawn bilateral attention amid ongoing discussions in the United States about religious freedom and security conditions in Nigeria.
