- By Halimah Olamide
The Nigerian Army has said that it has no bias against any religion.
The Army said its adoption of secularism is to enable all its officers and men to practise their faiths while serving their country.
Army spokesman, General Onyema Ugochuwku, made these assertions while reacting to insinuations that the Nigerian Army only runs a school for Muslims without considerations for other faiths.
It described as “misleading” a report suggesting that the army only runs a School of Islamic Affairs.
” Considering the gravity of this falsehood, the NA wishes to categorically state that this propaganda in its entirety is dead on arrival as it clearly does not reflect the values of our esteemed institution.
“The Nigerian Army is a secular organization that upholds the principle of religious freedom for all its personnel and ensures that personnel irrespective of ranks is free to practice their religions without any form of bias or endorsement of a specific religion.
“Our unwavering commitment to secularism guarantees that religious diversity is respected and accommodated, allowing soldiers to observe their faith without hindrance to their duties” the army said
It added the need to clarify that the Army operates multiple religious training institutions to cater to the diverse faiths of our personnel noting that the Nigerian Army School of Islamic Affairs located in NA Cantonment Ikeja, Lagos, the Nigerian Army Protestant Training School in Yaba and the Nigerian Army Chaplain Catholic Training School in Ojo Cantonment are all instances of its catering to the religious needs of personnels.
“These schools frequently engage in interfaith collaborations, promoting unity and cohesion among our diverse members. Our dedication to secularism is aimed at fostering a professional and inclusive environment, where individuals can serve their country without fear of religious discrimination or bias.
“This approach ensures that all officers and soldiers can practice their beliefs in a supportive and respectful setting. The NA remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the values of secularism and religious freedom, ensuring that all personnel can serve with dignity and respect for their individual beliefs.”