Daniel Otera
President Bola Tinubu and his United States counterpart, Donald Trump, will soon meet to discuss allegations of genocide against Christians in Nigeria, the Presidency has disclosed.
The meeting, expected to hold in either Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, or the White House in Washington DC, follows Trump’s controversial claim on Friday that Christians in Nigeria face an “existential threat” from radical Islamists.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged killings of Christians and directed American lawmakers to investigate the matter, accusing Nigerian authorities of inaction.
President Tinubu swiftly rejected the characterisation, describing it as a misrepresentation of Nigeria’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,” Tinubu said in a statement posted on his official handle.
He emphasised that religious freedom and tolerance remain core tenets of Nigeria’s collective identity, adding that the country has constitutional guarantees protecting citizens of all faiths.
“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,” he stated.
The Nigerian leader noted that his administration remains committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protecting communities of all faiths.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, confirmed the planned meeting between both leaders, noting their shared interest in fighting insurgency and terrorism.
“President Trump has assisted Nigeria a lot by authorising the sale of arms to Nigeria and President Tinubu has adequately utilised the opportunity in the fight against terrorism for which we have massive results to show for it,” Bwala wrote on his X platform.
He added that any differences regarding whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or all faiths would be discussed and resolved when the two leaders meet.
This is not the first time Trump has raised concerns about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria. On 30th April 2018, during a state visit by late President Muhammadu Buhari to the White House, Trump questioned: “Why are you killing Christians? I won’t tolerate it any longer.”
The latest development comes amidst ongoing security challenges in various parts of Nigeria, with terrorist groups and criminal gangs attacking communities regardless of religious affiliation.