Nigeria Rejects US ‘Country of Concern’ Designation as Tinubu Replies Trump

.Denies christian genocide claims

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rejected the recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) by U.S. President Donald Trump, a move that opens the door for potential sanctions over alleged “Christian genocide.

In a statement he personally signed, President Tinubu insisted that the characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant “does not reflect our national reality” and fails to acknowledge the government’s sincere efforts to protect all citizens.

President Tinubu affirmed that Nigeria “stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.”

He highlighted that since 2023, his administration has maintained “an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike” while continuing to address security challenges that affect citizens across all faiths and regions.

The Nigerian leader stressed that “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”.

The President however reiterated his administration’s commitment “to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths.”

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) had reported that the designation was announced by President Trump on Friday, citing a belief that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria” and blaming “radical Islamists” for mass slaughter.

The U.S. designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” is reserved for nations whose governments engage in or tolerate particularly severe violations of religious freedom. The move follows months of advocacy by some U.S. lawmakers and religious freedom watchdogs who argue that violence against Christians in Nigeria has reached alarming levels.

This is not the first time Nigeria has been placed on the CPC list, having been designated in 2020 under the same administration, before being removed in 2023.

Full statement below:

Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.

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.

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.

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.

Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.

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.

BOLA AHMED TINUBU
PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA