The federal government has declared its support for the recent ban on United States (US) visas for some Nigerians that was seen as undermining the nation’s democracy. The government said that serious sanctions should be imposed on those who represent any kind of threat to the nation’s democracy.
“Let me be clear: any action taken against anyone who undermines this democracy that has been watered with the blood of many of our patriots is correct and justified,” said the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, yesterday at the 20th edition of the PMB Management Dashboard Series (2015-2023) in Abuja.
LEADERSHIP had reported that the US government announced visa restrictions for Nigerians that undermined the country’s democracy, a ban it said was not directed at the Nigerian people or the government, but at specific individuals. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the announcement last week in a statement but did not name the people affected.
The minister boasted that no administration since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999 has shown more fidelity to the democratic process than the current administration headed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Muhammad said: “Penalize those who undermine our democracy and carry their own cross. As a government, we don’t have to worry because our hands are clean!”
He also revealed that the current administration is creating the template on a smooth transition of power that will guide future administrations.
Presenting the record of his achievements since his more than seven years in office, Federal Capital Territory Minister Muhammad Bello took the audience through various projects, including roads, bridges and the Abuja light rail, that were built under his supervision.
Mallam Bello said that the Abuja light rail will start running before May 29, when the current administration will step down. He said that the rail service did not start operating due to COVID-19. He said that many of the train stations have been completed.
The FCT minister claimed that Abuja has become one of the safest cities in Nigeria under his tenure. According to him, security has improved significantly in Abuja.
But not many people would agree with him on some of the issues, especially the issue of insecurity in Abuja. The city has witnessed many security breaches, including the murder of some soldiers, car theft popularly known as an opportunity, and the increase in kidnapping for ransom. There is a lot of insecurity in the satellite areas of Abuja due to the influx of people, mostly from northern Nigeria, due to the increase in terrorism in the region.
The minister said that the current administration that took office in Nigeria on May 29, 2015 has had a tremendous impact on socio-economic and political development on the 8,000 square kilometers of land in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The FCT administration under my humble leadership has registered milestones in the areas of infrastructure, education, health, security, agriculture, economy and social intervention, among others,” said the minister.
