The Minister of Information and Culture , Alhaji Lai Mohammed , on Monday said some foreign entities including human rights groups such as Amnesty International and the International Criminal Court were being used to frustrate Nigeria ’ s efforts to deal with the Boko Haram menace.
He alleged that threats of sanctions and other unwholesome tactics being used to threaten and demoralise the nation ’ s military and security services only go to serve the interests of terrorists and further put Nigeria ’ s security in jeopardy .
Mohammed said this at a media briefing in Lagos . He spoke on the state of the nation and gave highlights of the achievements recorded by the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , in various spheres of national life in the outgone year , 2020.
The minister said, “The Federal Government frowns at this unbridled attempt to demoralize our security men and women as they confront the onslaught from bandits and terrorists . Nigeria did not join the ICC so it can become a pawn on the court ’ s chessboard.
“It beggars ’ belief to see that a nation that is fighting an existential war against bandits and terrorists is constantly being held down by an international body , which it willingly joined .
Mohammed said despite the antics of another ‘ fighting force ’ against Nigeria , the country had made tremendous progress in tackling banditry and Boko Haram insurgency .
READ ALSO : I ’ ve cordial relationship with Kwankwaso, Ganduje – Shekarau
The minister also used the occasion to state that the federal government has made considerable progress in the containment of the COVID -19 pandemic through a multi-sectoral approach which has increased the number of testing centres across the nation .
He said, “Government of the Federation to drive the multi-sectoral approach to contain the virus . Nigeria has so far availed itself creditably in the fight against Covid -19 through the deployment of resources , mobilization and training of manpower and expansion of health infrastructure, particularly our testing capacity for Covid -19.
From just two National Reference Laboratory for the testing of Covid -19, we now have over 100 laboratories , public and private , across all the states of the federation . ”
