Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to religious freedom and tolerance following recent comments by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians.
In a statement released on Saturday, President Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria remains a democracy founded on constitutional guarantees of religious liberty for all its citizens.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” the president said. “Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.”
President Tinubu rejected claims suggesting that Nigeria is religiously intolerant, describing such assertions as inaccurate and inconsistent with the country’s reality.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” he stated.
He further reaffirmed that religious freedom and tolerance are key aspects of Nigeria’s identity and governance.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it,” Tinubu added.
The president also reiterated that the Nigerian Constitution provides full protection for citizens of all faiths, and his administration continues to prioritize unity and mutual respect among diverse religious groups.
“Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths,” he said. “Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths.”
Tinubu’s remarks come in response to President Trump’s statement on Truth Social on Friday, where Trump declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” alleging that thousands of Christians had been killed by radical Islamist groups.
The Nigerian government’s response underscores its commitment to promoting religious harmony and addressing security challenges affecting all Nigerians, regardless of faith or background.
