Nigeria rejects US “country of particular concern” designation
The federal government of Nigeria has formally rejected the designation by U.S. President Donald Trump of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged genocide-level killings of Christians. In his remarks, Trump claimed that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” adding that thousands of Christians were being killed by radical Islamist groups.
In response, the government issued a statement via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria in which spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said that the allegations do not reflect the situation on the ground in Nigeria. He emphasised that Nigerians of all faiths have historically lived, worked and worshipped together in peace. The statement reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to combating terrorism, fostering inter-faith harmony, and protecting the rights of all citizens.
The move by Trump to place Nigeria on the watch list of nations with serious religious freedom concerns under the International Religious Freedom Act is significant because it is a strong diplomatic signal and could open the door for future U.S. measures, including the suspension of non-humanitarian aid. Meanwhile Nigeria is expressing its willingness to engage diplomatically with the U.S. to ensure accurate understanding of regional dynamics and the country’s security efforts.
Given the tension this development introduces between the two governments, many observers expect diplomatic outreach in the coming days to clarify positions and possibly to avoid deeper fallout. For Nigeria, the concern will be how this designation might affect international aid, investment sentiment and its global reputation. For the U.S., the signal underscores concern over religious violence abroad and the leverage Washington may apply to encourage reform or accountability.
