Tinubu will head to the U.S. Tuesday to meet Trump’s Vice President, JD Vance.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that President Bola Tinubu will depart Nigeria on Tuesday for a high-level diplomatic visit to the United States amid escalating tension following President Donald Trump’s warning over alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria.
According to sources cited by SaharaReporters, the visit is aimed at strengthening security, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic cooperation between both nations. President Trump has reportedly delegated his Vice President, James David (JD) Vance, to host President Tinubu during the engagement — barring any last-minute changes.
Confirming the visit, Tinubu’s media aide Daniel Bwala said both leaders are committed to deepening collaboration in the global fight against terrorism and extremism. He noted that the Trump administration previously supported Nigeria through arms sales — equipment the Tinubu government continues to use in ongoing counterterrorism operations.
Bwala added that the meeting would also address “perceived misunderstandings” regarding the religious framing of terrorism in Nigeria.
The visit follows Trump’s recent warning that the U.S. could suspend aid or deploy troops to Nigeria if the government fails to end what he described as the “killing of Christians.” The Nigerian government, however, dismissed the allegations, stressing that there is no state-sponsored persecution of any religious group.
In response, Tinubu reaffirmed that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and equal rights for all citizens, describing Trump’s remarks as a “mischaracterisation” of the country’s religious dynamics.
He emphasised that his administration remains focused on promoting national unity, religious tolerance, and stronger international partnerships — particularly with the United States — to ensure peace and stability in Nigeria and across Africa.