The Jewish Community in Nigeria has urged the Federal and state governments to intensify efforts in safeguarding the lives and property of citizens, regardless of tribe or religion.
Chief Arthur-Regis Odidika, President of the Jewish Community in Nigeria and Vice-President of the Commonwealth Jewish Council (Africa–Nigeria), made the appeal in Awka while speaking on the upcoming visit of Clive Lawton, Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, scheduled for November.
Odidika stressed that no nation could effectively address poverty, unemployment, or underdevelopment in an environment plagued by insecurity. He called on the government and security agencies to ensure that every Nigerian enjoys freedom of worship and can engage in legitimate businesses without fear.
“Nigeria is a secular state. While Christianity and Islam are dominant, other religions such as Judaism and African traditional practices exist and must also be protected. Insecurity is affecting everyone regardless of ethnicity or faith, and more troubling is its impact on food production and investor confidence,” he said.
According to him, the Jewish Community under the auspices of the Judaism Fellowship Initiative (JFI) envisions a Nigeria that is peaceful, secure, prosperous, and governed by the rule of law. He therefore urged governments at all levels to adopt both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in tackling insecurity.
Speaking on the planned visit of Lawton, Odidika said the Nigerian Jewish Community looks forward to hosting the leader of Jewish communities in 35 Commonwealth member states.
He explained that the Commonwealth Jewish Council, established three decades ago, supports the development of Jewish communities across the Commonwealth while building networks for mutual support and advocacy.
“The visit aligns with the Council’s mandate of encouraging Jewish communities in member countries to contribute meaningfully to the societies they live in. From Nigeria, the CEO will also proceed to visit Jewish communities in Cameroon and Ghana during his African tour,” he added.