The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has said that there is freedom of religion in Nigeria contrary to the feeling expressed by the United States, which made it to place Nigeria on religious freedom blacklist.
Reacting to the US position, in a statement by the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the CAN President, Adebayo Oladeji, the Association expressed reservation on the position of the US, adding that the implication of such religious freedom blacklist could result in possible sanctions.
It said though that there are other religious persecutions in most of the states of the federation, especially in the Northern part of the country, alleging that in many states like Kano and Jigawa, Christians are denied the Certificate of Occupancy and churches are not allowed to purchase lands and they have to go through individuals and even if that is done, they will be denied the Certificate of Occupancy.
The statement described such policy as discriminatory policies, adding that as religious persecutions, mosques are built wherever they desire and no government dares to ask for any document.
”In education, Christians are not allowed to study courses like Medicine and Law in some universities in the North and in most federal owned universities in the North, Christians are not allowed to become the Vice-Chancellor even if they are qualified.
The statement said that in the University of Ilorin, in the last 25 years or more, no Christian has been allowed to be its Vice-Chancellor.
”About 95 percent of those who head security agencies are sharing the same faith with the President, pointing out that some agencies, Christians are replaced with Muslims. This is what we witness every day.”
