POLITICAL OFFICER OF THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SAYS NIGERIA’S HATE SPEECH BILL IS RATHER IMPRESSIVE

Political Officer of the Embassy of the United States of America, Jerry Howard, on Tuesday described the Hate Speech bill before the National Assembly as an “impressive” piece of legislation needed to address issues of discrimination, hostility and violence in Nigeria.

Howard stated this during a meeting with the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and sponsor of the Hate Speech Bill, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, at the National Assembly, Abuja.

According to the United States Embassy official, the visit was intended to engage the sponsor of the Hate Speech Bill and to seek an understanding into the proposed legislation under consideration by the Senate.

Following explanations by Senator Sabi Abdullahi on the bill, Mr. Howard described the response of the media as “misleading” and “hysterical” of the contents of the bill and what it actually seeks to achieve.

He, therefore, advised the sponsor of the bill to engage and educate Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society Organizations in the country on its proposed contents so as to muster support for the bill.

Speaking on the decision of the US Embassy to engage the National Assembly on the Hate Speech Bill, Howard said, “We want Nigeria to succeed and we think a prerequisite for Nigeria’s success is successful democracy.