President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rejected the designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by United States President Donald Trump over alleged widespread killings of Christians, insisting that Nigeria remains a democracy founded on constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
In a statement issued on Saturday, President Tinubu said the U.S. characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant “does not reflect our national reality” and fails to acknowledge the country’s ongoing efforts to protect citizens of all faiths.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu said.
“Since 2023, our administration has maintained open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges that affect citizens across faiths and regions.”
He added, “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.”
The president reaffirmed that religious freedom and tolerance remain “a core tenet of our collective identity,” stressing that Nigeria “opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
Tinubu further stated that his administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community “to deepen understanding and cooperation on the protection of communities of all faiths.”
The statement follows a post by U.S. President Donald Trump on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, in which he officially designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing what he described as “mass slaughter” of Christians by radical Islamist groups.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote. “I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN.’”
President Trump also directed Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to investigate the reported killings and “report back” to him, saying, “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries.”
President Tinubu, however, maintained that Nigeria remains a nation of peaceful coexistence among diverse religious and ethnic groups, assuring both local and international partners that his administration will continue to uphold the principles of justice, security, and unity for all citizens.
