According to a report by Daily Post on Thursday, November 6, 2025, Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, said Nigeria was responsible for the situation that led to the country being listed as a place of concern regarding religious freedom by the United States government.
He explained that the development did not come suddenly, but was connected to issues that had been raised for years without sufficient response from the authorities.
According to him, the matter reflected how the country handles internal challenges that affect rights and public welfare.
Falana spoke during a television interview where he discussed the decision made by the administration of United States President Donald Trump.
He noted that the United States took the step after assessing Nigeria’s record on handling diversity and protecting citizens.
He pointed out that other countries also observed how Nigeria addresses conflicts related to identity, religion, and security.
He stressed that the attention the matter received was tied to Nigeria’s standing among nations.
The lawyer stated that the development was avoidable if Nigeria had taken earlier measures to address cases linked to discrimination and violence.
Falana explained that several human rights and civil society groups had presented concerns to the government, but the response was often slow or insufficient.
He maintained that these issues contributed to the international perception that Nigeria was not doing enough to protect its citizens.
He also mentioned that the government had opportunities to provide clear reports and actions to counter the negative impression.
Falana said a firm response and transparent steps could have demonstrated that Nigeria was capable of handling internal matters without external pressure.
He added that inconsistent communication and delayed intervention in sensitive issues played a role in creating doubt about the country’s commitment to rights protection.
Falana expressed that Nigeria should not see the matter only as criticism from another country but as a reminder of responsibilities to its citizens.
He said improving how the government responds to complaints, court judgments, and reports from human rights organizations could help build confidence within and outside the country, he noted that accountability and fairness are important for national unity.
The lawyer emphasized that Nigeria has the capacity to address these concerns through stronger institutions and adherence to the rule of law.
He said the country’s laws already provide frameworks that, if applied consistently, would protect diverse groups and reduce tensions.
He explained that ensuring equal treatment and justice can reduce the incidents used to justify foreign scrutiny.
Falana maintained that it is important for public officials to reflect on the outcome and work towards measures that prevent similar situations in the future.
He said the matter should serve as a point of review for how Nigeria engages issues that affect rights, safety, and national image.
He said: “Why have we brought this embarrassment to ourselves as a people that we are being treated as a neocolony of the United States of America? We cannot even challenge Mr Trump, ‘How dare you? Where is this hypocrisy coming from. View, More,
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