United States President Donald Trump has designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) following renewed allegations of Christian persecution and genocide in the West African nation.
Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post on Friday, which was later shared on the White House’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
The designation — one of the U.S. government’s most serious labels for religious freedom violations — typically applies to countries accused of engaging in or tolerating “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”
While the full details of the policy implications are yet to be released, the move could trigger sanctions or diplomatic measures under the International Religious Freedom Act.
The decision comes amid growing reports from international religious watchdogs and human rights groups alleging large-scale attacks on Christian communities in parts of northern and central Nigeria.
Nigeria was previously listed under the same category during Trump’s first term in office in 2020, but was later removed in 2021 by the Biden administration — a move widely criticised by U.S. evangelical leaders and global Christian advocacy organisations.