Following Friday’s re-designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by US President Donald Trump over reported cases of killing of Christians in the country, the Federal Government has restated its commitment to ending terrorism and violent extremism in the country and to defend all citizens.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday morning by the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ibienfa, stressing that the Government has noted the recent statement by the United States of America on religious freedom in Nigeria.
The US President on Friday announced the decision to re-designate Nigeria as a CPC on his Truth Social media, claiming that Nigerian Christians have been subjected to widespread slaughter by Islamist terrorists and vowed that the US will not stand by and watch such atrocities go on.
Trump said, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for mass slaughter, I am hereby making Nigeria “a COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN”-But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done. I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter, and report back to me.
“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the world.”
However, in the statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Nigerian government said, “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.
“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.
“Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength. Nigeria is a God-fearing country where we respect faith, tolerance, diversity and inclusion, in concurrence with the rules-based international order.”
The statement noted that the US has been and will always remain a close ally of Nigeria because the “Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will maintain our laser focus and steadfast commitment to all partners who believe in genuine peace, stability, freedom and democracy.”
Nigeria was first designated as a CPC in December 2020 by the Trump administration but was removed the following year by the Biden administration in November 2021. This decision triggered controversy and was heavily criticized by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and some members of the US Congress.
However, in 2025, a bill was introduced in the US Senate (the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025”) and a House subcommittee held a hearing recommending that Nigeria be reinstated as a CPC due to continued violence against religious communities and the government’s perceived failure to address it.
Although the authorities in Nigerian have vehemently denied the claims, stating that the violence in the country is a result of insurgency and banditry, not religious persecution, and that it affects both Muslims and Christians, the Trump administration appeared to have stuck to their guns and there are severe consequences that might come to Nigeria including individuals that will be targeted.
