HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MOVES TO COUNTER U.S. SENATE BILL ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Oriontimes | Abuja – October 21, 2025
The House of Representatives has expressed strong concern over a bill recently introduced in the United States Senate seeking to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for alleged violations of religious freedom.
The motion, raised under Matters of Urgent Public Importance by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, called for a coordinated diplomatic and legislative response to what he described as “a mischaracterisation of Nigeria’s complex security and religious freedom landscape.”
Lending his voice in support of the motion, the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Busayo Oluwole Oke, described the U.S. bill as “a clear distortion of Nigeria’s social and religious realities.”
He commended the Deputy Speaker for bringing the issue to national attention and emphasised the need for a unified front between both chambers of the National Assembly to defend Nigeria’s image and sovereignty.
“We must not allow external interests to define our story. Nigeria is a nation of diverse faiths, cultures, and tribes, yet we coexist in peace far more than we are given credit for. Both the Senate and the House must speak with one voice to correct this wrong perception,” Hon. Oke stated.
Hon. Oke reaffirmed that Nigeria remains fully committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all its citizens, including freedom of religion and belief.
He further urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s Embassy in Washington D.C. to intensify diplomatic engagements with U.S. authorities to ensure that the nation’s true democratic and religious realities are accurately represented abroad.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s ongoing security and social challenges, the lawmaker maintained that branding Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom is both unfair and counterproductive. He called for a strategic legislative and diplomatic framework to safeguard Nigeria’s integrity and promote mutual respect in international relations.
Signed:
Office of Hon. Busayo Wole Oke
Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Member, House of Representatives
Post a Comment
Join the conversation!
Have insights, corrections, or questions about this news story? Drop your comment below. We value civil, fact-based discussion.