President Bola Tinubu has faulted the redesignation of Nigeria by US President Donald Trump as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged Christian persecution, insisting that religious liberty remains a core feature of Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement personally signed by him on Saturday, President Tinubu said the United States’ characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect the country’s reality or the government’s ongoing efforts to protect citizens of all faiths.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” the President declared. “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.”
Trump had earlier announced via his Truth Social platform that Nigeria was being redesignated due to alleged genocide against Christians, claiming the US could not ignore “mass killings by radical Islamists.”
However, President Tinubu, in his reaction, said such claims failed to acknowledge Nigeria’s diversity and commitment to peaceful coexistence among its citizens.
“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,” he said.
He added that religious freedom and tolerance “have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” stressing that Nigeria “opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
Reaffirming his administration’s position, Tinubu said Nigeria would continue to work with the US government and other international partners to promote understanding and cooperation on protecting communities of all faiths.
“Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths,” he reiterated. “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.”
