Federal Government of Nigeria on Wednesday met with members of the diplomatic corps in Abuja to address allegations of religious persecution and firmly rejected the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), insisting that the country does not target any group based on faith.
Speaking at the meeting, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Ahmed, said claims of religious persecution were based on misrepresentation of Nigeria’s social and legal systems, noting that national laws are religion-neutral and protect all citizens equally.
He explained that while Shari’a laws exist in some northern states, they apply only to Muslims and operate under the supervision of Nigeria’s secular judiciary, stressing that both Christian and Muslim institutions operate freely and promote peaceful coexistence.
“There is no offence of blasphemy in Nigeria’s national legal framework. Christian and Muslim institutions continue to operate freely, promoting peaceful coexistence,” Ahmed said.
Also addressing journalists, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the US decision as a product of “misrepresentation and misinformation.”
“Criminal activities and terrorism do not target any particular religious group. This is not about religion; it is about crime,” he said.
Idris highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s security achievements, noting that since assuming office in May 2023, security forces had neutralised over 13,500 terrorists, arrested more than 17,000 suspects, and rescued over 9,850 abducted persons, including women and children.
“The menace of terrorism in Nigeria does not exclusively target any religious or ethnic group,” he stressed.
He added that the Tinubu administration is engaging diplomatic channels to address Washington’s concerns and correct what he called a “misjudgment of Nigeria’s reality.”
“The Government of Nigeria remains open to working with the United States and other partners to completely eliminate terrorism and violent extremism. However, Nigeria must not be misrepresented as a religiously intolerant nation,” Idris said.
Keyamo Writes Trump
In a related development, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, wrote to former US President Donald Trump, countering claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
In a letter shared via his verified X handle on Tuesday, Keyamo said he felt compelled to respond “as a Christian and a public official,” arguing that Nigeria was being wrongly portrayed as a country where Christians were systematically attacked.
He noted that President Tinubu’s immediate family includes Christians, with his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, serving as a pastor in a major Pentecostal church, while his children are also practising Christians.
“President Tinubu is a known moderate who, during his time as Governor of Lagos State, regularly invited Christian pastors for prayers. He would be the last person to condone or adopt the killing of Christians as a state policy,” Keyamo stated.
Keyamo described the narrative of “Christian genocide” as exaggerated and misleading, adding that it should not influence US foreign policy.
Olurode Warns FG to Exercise Caution
Meanwhile, Prof. Lai Olurode, a former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urged the Federal Government to exercise diplomatic restraint in responding to the US designation and Trump’s remarks.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Olurode warned that it would be “suicidal to walk into America’s death trap,” advising that Nigeria respond with decorum and diplomacy.
“President Trump can even be angry with the truth. Nigeria should act cautiously because America remains the most powerful nation in a unipolar world. Our elites must unite behind President Tinubu to protect national interest,” he said.
Enang Advises Against Hasty Reactions
Similarly, Senator Ita Enang, a former presidential aide, cautioned the Federal Government against hasty or uncoordinated statements from officials following Washington’s threat of sanctions.