The Minister
of Interior, Abba Moro has said the Federal Government granted visa to a
renowned extremist and Islamic terror Preacher, Dr Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
because he met the requirements.
Philips who
lives in Qatar has been issued a Nigerian Visa to visit and preach in the
Country. The cleric has already been banned from countries like Australia,
Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America, Kenya, amongst others.
Abu Ameenah
Bilal Philips has been banned from a number of countries because of his
messages.
Reports had
it that the cleric celebrated his Visa issuance with his followers on his Facebook
on Sunday morning, saying, “Al hamdu lillaah. I just got a visa for Nigeria and
will be going there in a few days, in shaa allaah. So, I hope to see all my
Nigerian brothers and sisters. Baarakallaahu feekum”.
Speaking to
journalists in Abuja, the Minister of Interior noted that every country has its
own requirement for the grant visa and in Nigeria’s situation especially
against “the back drop of our security challenges, we also have our requirement
for granting of visas.
“We have our
own black list too of people that because of our security situation should not
be allowed into country.
“And if this
preacher that you talk about for instance did not fall within the list of
people black listed for their activities that are inimical to internal
security. If he is preaching and the content of what he has submitted for the
granting of visa that will not undermine the security of the country, then certainly
we will grant him the visa. That is the purpose we have achieved here”.
He further
said it was double standards, as “when the Nigerian government signed the
anti-law and the west was complaining, we started that Nigeria nation is a
soverign country that should be allowed to determine it’s destiny and
practices”.
He added
that Nigeria will therefore not use” the refusal of visa by Germany, UK as a
basis for refusing anybody visa here.
Minister of
the Interior, Abba Moro “I can assure you that the Nigerian security personnel
are equal to the task of detecting whose activities that are inimical to the
situation of this country.
“Any moment
that his preaching and activities are seen to be inimical to the security of
this country I can assure you that we are up to the task of repatriating him as
soon as possible.
“And his
specific activities in this country guides the request that he has made which
has also guided the action of the Nigerian immigration service in granting the
visa.
“Apart from
the preacher any other person that gains entry to this country whose activities
undermine the integrity and security of this country will be properly treated.”
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