Drop Religious Discrimination, End Insecurity – CAN Tells Lawmakers

Nigeria’s Christian denominations umbrella, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the nation’s lawmakers to focus on settling the issue of insecurity in the country and abort emphasis on religious discrimination, while seeking an explanation for the rationale behind the Hijab Bill.

CAN President, Pastor Samson Ayokunle expressed his concerns over the issue of insecurity in the country and how it is affecting religious tourism in a meeting with a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Musa Saidu Abdullahi, sponsor of the bill seeking the non-discrimination of Hijab on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.

Pastor Ayokunle said, “This bill is a small thing; let us make it a comprehensive thing that any right-thinking person will read and will say ‘this is moving the Nigeria nation forward.’ Please, Honourable, I am appealing to you and your colleagues to help us find a way to put an end to insecurity in this country.

He added, “We need to create employment opportunities. Unemployment is fueling insecurity because the terrorist and bandits are able to recruit with easy, unengaged hands. They give them little money, they are satisfied. But the government is not doing that.

“The body language does not suggest that we want to put an end to it. We are hearing from the corridors of power that the money voted for security is being diverted. If you see the investment we are losing because of insecurity. Even religious tourism is very difficult now because of insecurity.”

The body, therefore urged the sponsor, and National Assembly members by extension, to focus on the more pressing issues in the country, including insecurity.