President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dismissed the description of Nigeria as a country hostile to religious freedom, insisting that the nation remains firmly committed to protecting the rights of citizens of all faiths.
Tinubu’s response followed a statement by former United States President Donald Trump, who on Friday designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged persecution of Christians.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social account — later shared by the White House on X — claimed that Christianity was facing an “existential threat” in Nigeria, alleging that “thousands of Christians are being killed” by “radical Islamists.”
“I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern,’” Trump wrote, urging U.S. lawmakers to investigate what he described as ongoing atrocities and report their findings to him.
He added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening,” stressing the need for urgent global action to protect Christians.
Responding via his official X handle on Saturday, President Tinubu maintained that Nigeria remains a democratic nation guided by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty for all citizens.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu wrote. “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 president rejected any suggestion that Nigeria promotes religious persecution, describing such claims as inaccurate and unreflective of the country’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,” he said.
Tinubu reaffirmed that religious freedom and tolerance have always been part of Nigeria’s national identity and will continue to guide his administration’s policies.
“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,” he added.
The president further emphasized his administration’s commitment to working with the United States and the wider international community to promote peace and protect vulnerable communities around the world.
“Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on the protection of communities of all faiths,” Tinubu stated.
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