The Senate yesterday constituted a 12-man ad hoc committee to advise it on how to respond to growing international concerns over alleged state-backed persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The resolution of the Senate followed its deliberations during a closed-door session, where lawmakers debated on recent claims by the United States Government suggesting possible acts of genocide against Christians in some parts of the country.
The Senate’s move also followed increasing diplomatic scrutiny and the potential implications of such allegations on Nigeria’s international reputation and interfaith relations.
Members of the committee include: Senators Victor Umeh, Yemi Adaramodu, Aniekan Bassey, Niyi Adegbonmire, Abdul Ningi, and Titus Zam.
Others are: Senators Tony Nwoye, Mohammed Tahir Munguno, and Asuquo Ekpenyong.
The committee has been tasked with developing a comprehensive position paper for presentation to both the Executive and the Senate.
The committee is expected to come up with a document that would shape Nigeria’s legislative stance on the matter and guide its engagement in ongoing international discussions.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who made the declaration, noted that the position paper must be backed with verifiable facts and statistics.
The Red Chamber resolved to engage with the United States Congress to address and counter what it described as misleading narratives portraying the country’s security challenges as a Christian genocide.
The decision followed a motion moved by Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) last week, which sparked a broader debate among lawmakers on the international perception of Nigeria’s internal security issues.
During deliberations, lawmakers had expressed concern that such narratives, though often arising from genuine concern, are grossly misinforming international partners and damaging Nigeria’s global image and economy.
Akpabio mooted the idea that an ad hoc committee be set up to visit the United States and directly engage with American lawmakers to clarify the situation.
The Senate President stressed the need for private discussions, suggesting a closed-door session and a smaller delegation to undertake the engagement.
‘There are misconceptions that need to be corrected. We are dealing with a complex terrorist threat and it’s important that our counterparts in the US understand that the violence affects both Christians and Muslims,’ he said.