Nigerian Immigration officials on the behest of the Federal Government have issued visa to extremist and Islamic terror preacher, Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips who has been banned from entering countries such as Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America and Kenya.
Defending the decision to grant the radical cleric who lives in Qatar visa to preach in Nigeria , the Minister of Interior while speaking with journalists noted that every country has its own requirement to grant visa.
He also stated that Nigeria has a watch list on which names of individuals it perceived as threats are listed
Speaking the minister said, “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.
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”.