Lai Mohammed Says Nigeria Can’t Be Compared With Afghanistan

According to Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, the country is not a failed state and cannot follow in the footsteps of Afghanistan, where the Taliban has taken control.

This was mentioned by the minister in Washington, DC, during meetings with foreign media organizations such as BBC Radio and Television, Bloomberg, and Politico.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the minister is in the United States to speak with foreign media organizations and think tanks about President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s achievements and efforts to combat insurgency, banditry, and other forms of criminality.

Speaking to NAN following his individual meetings with the three media organizations, Mr Mohammed said insinuations in some quarters that Nigeria’s security situation may degenerate to that of Afghanistan were incorrect.

He emphasized that Nigeria is winning the war on terror and that the country cannot follow in the footsteps of Afghanistan, where the Taliban, a terrorist group, grabbed power.

“Nigeria is not and will not be a failed state. Yes, we have challenges in some corners of the country but that has not made Nigeria a failed state.

“A failed state is one where basic facilities are not available and everything has broken down but, Nigeria is not in that stage,’’ he said.

Mr Lai Mohammed stated that Nigeria is not at war, and that fake news and disinformation are being utilized to depict the country in a perilous state.

The minister stated that the developments in Afghanistan had validated President Buhari’s point that when waging an unconventional war, the country needed to be resourceful.

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