The Federal Government of Nigeria has reacted to the recent statement by former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged large-scale killings of Christians.
In a press release issued on Saturday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to tackling violent extremism and promoting religious tolerance, diversity, and inclusion.
“We remain committed in our resolve to tackle the violent extremism that is fueled by special interests who have helped drive such decay and division in countries across the intersecting West African and Sahel regions,” the statement read.
The ministry expressed sympathy for all victims of violent extremism and praised Nigeria’s armed forces for their continued fight against insurgency.
“We mourn all the victims of violent extremism and salute our armed forces as they continue to fight against vicious but cowardly foes. The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion,” it added.
Responding indirectly to Trump’s characterization of the country as unsafe for Christians, the Ministry noted that Nigeria “has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength,” describing the nation as a “God-fearing country where we respect faith, tolerance, diversity and inclusion.”
The Federal Government also reaffirmed its diplomatic ties with Washington, describing the United States as a close ally.
“The U.S. has been—and we trust will always remain—a close ally, because the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will maintain our steadfast commitment to all partners who believe in genuine peace, stability, freedom, and democracy,” the statement said.
The press release follows Trump’s recent post in which he alleged that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria” and announced that he was designating Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious persecution.
Nigeria was first placed on the U.S. religious freedom watch list in 2020 under Trump’s presidency but was later delisted by the Biden administration in 2021.
The latest exchange could reignite diplomatic debate over the nature of Nigeria’s security challenges, which the government maintains are driven by terrorism and criminality rather than religious persecution.