Religious Issues and Foreign Language Learning in Nigeria: A Matter of Politics or Policies?

This paper tends in the first instance, to look critically at the issue of religion,then other issues like: attitude of teachers, parents and students as theyaffect foreign language learning before looking at politics and governmentpolicies as factors that mar or make the teaching/learning of foreign languagein Nigeria.This is because, when it comes to foreign language learning, especiallyFrench and Arabic in Nigeria, issues abound; as a matter of fact, mostNigerian students are almost already divided along Christian and Islamicreligion lines. Some believing that French language is meant for theChristians while others are of the opinion that its Arabic counterpart shouldbe for the Muslims.As a form of conclusion, answers were provided to the question ofweather if it is politics or policies all in a bid to lay to rest, the popular anderroneous bone of contention that a particular language belongs to aparticular religion.