Abuja, Nigeria — Nigeria’s government and top officials have responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement labelling the country a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged Christian persecution, emphasising that no genocide is taking place and urging Washington to pursue partnership, not confrontation.
Dr Daniel Bwala, spokesperson to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said during an interview with BBC World Service that President Trump’s comments had been misunderstood and did not accurately reflect Nigeria’s situation.
“There’s been a misunderstanding of President Donald Trump’s remarks,” Bwala stated. “Nigeria faces serious security challenges that have affected people of all faiths — Christians, Muslims, and others — but there is no genocide.”
He explained that both President Tinubu and President Trump share a common interest in combating terrorism, recalling that Trump’s previous administration approved the sale of arms to Nigeria to aid the country’s fight against insurgency.
“Nigeria remains a sovereign nation, and while collaboration with international partners is welcome, any form of intervention must respect our sovereignty,” he added. “It would not be appropriate for the United States to take unilateral action without engagement and consent from the Nigerian government.”
Bwala earlier wrote on his X (Twitter) handle that both leaders have worked toward defeating terrorism and would discuss any existing differences in perspective when they meet in the coming days.
In a related development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom and condemning violent extremism.
“We mourn all the victims of violent extremism and salute our armed forces,” the statement signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the ministry, read.
“Nigeria celebrates diversity as our greatest strength and remains committed to peace, stability, and freedom in partnership with all allies, including the United States.”
Meanwhile, Tukur Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Nigerian Ambassador to the Benin Republic, has also weighed in on the issue, urging the United States to adopt a cooperative rather than coercive approach toward Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Buratai described the claim of a “Christian genocide” as “a dangerous misrepresentation of Nigeria’s complex realities”, warning that any hasty foreign military intervention could destabilise the entire West African region.
“The current confrontation between the United States and Nigeria, ignited by the spectre of foreign military intervention, represents a perilous crossroads,” Buratai stated.
“The ‘Christian genocide’ narrative is a dangerously reductive distortion of Nigeria’s intricate realities. For the United States, acting on this fallacy would be a profound strategic blunder; for Nigeria, it constitutes an existential menace.”
He further called on both nations to focus on dialogue and mutual economic advancement.
“To retreat from this brink, both nations must transcend political posturing and acknowledge their fundamentally aligned interests in lasting stability and shared economic progress,” he said.
The debate over religious freedom in Nigeria continues to intensify following President Trump’s designation, which has drawn mixed reactions both locally and internationally. The Nigerian government, however, maintains that it remains committed to safeguarding the rights and safety
