By Abbanobi – Eku Onyekachi
Abuja
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has disclosed the resolve of the Federal Government (FG) to ensure a safe return of refugees to their original homes, adding that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is not just to care for the strongest, but it is even more about the weakest which is what government is all about.
In another development, the Minister described religion without tolerance as inhumanity, adding that tolerance should be a hallmark of religious understanding.
He stated this while hosting the National Executive of Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) on a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Interior in Abuja.
These were contained in a separate press release from the Director of Press and Public Relations, Ozoya Imohimi.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo made the disclosure about FG’s plans for the refugees, while hosting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative in Nigeria, Mr. Arjun Jain and his team on a courtesy visit to the Minister’s office in Abuja, saying the Ministry is desirous of collaboration in order to pool strength together to lift the weakest by ensuring their safe return to their ancestral homes.
In his remarks, Arjun Jain said there is the need for collaboration between Nigerian government and UNHCR to enable Nigerians that are scattered around the world as refugees due to the activities of Boko Haram insurgents to return back to the country.
He further explained that there are over 120 million displaced people around the world out of which 3 percent are Nigerians while 108 are from Mali, Cameroon that live in the Northern parts of the country.
On the need to promote religious tolerance, Dr. Tunji-Ojo noted that religious leaders have a big role to play in fighting radical extremism and that the Ministry was ready to partner with NASFAT in the areas of advocacy, awareness and capacity building.
Noting that the fight against radical extremism can be fought both in kinetic and non kinetic ways, the Minister said that the kinetic approach in particular can be deployed to counter extreme ideology with superior ideology.
Stating that religious leaders have a key role to play in the area of tolerance, he said that they have a role in making sure banners are handed over the children without a stain, just as he explained that for him, he is never attached to the office but always attached to responsibilities. According to him, it is the responsibilities that make the office worthwhile, and he acknowledged NASFAT’s profound impact on the lives of humanity, and that is why he could passionately identify with the Society.
The Secretary of NASFAT Board of Trustees, Oloye Remi Babalola, who led the delegation to the Ministry said they came to appreciate the Minister for his good work to Nigeria, and pray for him to succeed on the mission given to him by President Bola Tinubu.
He also sought for partnership between NASFAT and the Ministry, especially on capacity building, advocacy to Custodian centres and appreciated the Minister on the assistance he rendered to its branch in Ondo state. NASFAT, a Muslim prayer group, at the end of the visit offered prayers for the Minister and the nation at large.
