The Senate, yesterday, constituted a 12-member ad hoc committee to craft a comprehensive position paper in response to mounting international concerns over alleged state-backed persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The move followed recent claims by the United States government suggesting possible acts of genocide targeting Christians in parts of the country — a report that has triggered diplomatic unease and renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s human rights record.
During a closed-door session, lawmakers deliberated extensively on the allegations and their potential impact on Nigeria’s global image and interfaith harmony.
The committee, chaired by Senator Victor Umeh, also includes Senators Yemi Adaramodu, Aniekan Bassey, Niyi Adegbonmire, Abdul Ningi, Titus Zam, Tony Nwoye, Tahir Munguno, and Asuquo Ekpenyong.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, tasked the panel with developing a fact-based document that would guide the National Assembly and the Executive in framing the country’s official response.
“Our position must be backed by verifiable facts and statistics,” he said, stressing the need to correct what he described as “misleading international narratives”.
The Senate also resolved to engage directly with members of the U.S. Congress to present Nigeria’s perspective. The decision stemmed from a motion by Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) last week, which warned that unchecked foreign misrepresentations of Nigeria’s security crisis could undermine the country’s diplomatic relations and economic prospects. Akpabio suggested that a smaller Senate delegation may visit Washington to hold private talks with U.S. lawmakers.
“There are misconceptions that need to be corrected,” he said, adding: “We are dealing with a complex terrorist threat, and it’s important our counterparts understand that the violence affects both Christians and Muslims.”
The adhoc committee is expected to submit its report in the coming weeks, providing a framework for Nigeria’s engagement on the sensitive issue both domestically and internationally.
