President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said the National Assembly will engage the executive arm of government to address recent threats made by United States President Donald Trump, who warned of possible military action against Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
Speaking with journalists at the National Assembly Complex on Thursday, Akpabio said the matter will be handled with utmost diplomacy since it touches on foreign policy and international relations.
“We have not discussed the issue of President Trump yet in chambers,” Akpabio stated. “We shall do so in combination with the executive because we believe it is a matter of foreign policy and diplomatic relations. I have refrained from taking any motion on that yet until we know the direction of government and what government intends to do.”
Trump had over the weekend threatened to “go into Nigeria guns-a-blazing” if the federal government failed to stop the killing of Christians in parts of the country. He also threatened to halt all U.S. aid and assistance to Nigeria, describing the nation as “disgraced” and “indifferent to religious persecution.”
The statement sparked outrage among U.S. lawmakers, who condemned Trump’s comments as “reckless and irresponsible,” insisting that threatening military intervention against a sovereign African state was diplomatically unacceptable.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has dismissed the allegations of genocide, warning that extremist groups spreading such narratives are bent on dividing the country along religious lines.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reiterated the government’s position after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“There is no genocide against Christians in Nigeria,” Idris said. “Those peddling that narrative are extremists trying to cause division. The President has remained calm amid the threats and is working with our foreign partners to ensure that the international community understands the true picture of Nigeria’s security situation.”
He added that the federal government has taken significant steps to strengthen national security, including the recent appointment of new service chiefs, and remains committed to protecting citizens of all faiths across the country.
As diplomatic attention intensifies, both the Senate and the executive are expected to coordinate Nigeria’s formal response to Washington’s latest political shockwave.
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