NewsOnline Nigeria reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has strongly rejected the decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged widespread killings of Christians, insisting that the claim is both false and misleading.
In a statement released on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, November 1, 2025, Tinubu described the U.S. classification as inaccurate and unfair, arguing that it fails to reflect Nigeria’s true reality or the government’s sustained commitment to protecting religious freedom for all citizens.
“The characterization 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,” Tinubu stated.
The President emphasized that his administration maintains active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders, stressing that religious freedom and tolerance remain core tenets of Nigeria’s national identity.
“Since 2023, our administration has maintained open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike, and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions,” he said.
Tinubu further reaffirmed that Nigeria opposes religious persecution in all forms, declaring that the country’s constitution provides strong guarantees for the protection of citizens of every faith.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a major part of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths,” he added.
The President also expressed readiness to work with the United States government and the international community to strengthen mutual understanding and promote the protection of faith-based communities globally.
Tinubu’s reaction comes a day after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” in a post on X, citing alleged mass killings of Christians by radical Islamist groups.
Trump claimed that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” and that thousands of Christians had been murdered in religiously motivated attacks.
“Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’” Trump declared.
He also directed Congressman Riley Moore, Chairman Tom Cole, and the U.S. House Appropriations Committee to investigate the killings and report back to him.
“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria,” Trump added.
However, the Nigerian government has repeatedly dismissed such allegations, accusing some U.S. lawmakers and advocacy groups of relying on false and exaggerated data to portray Nigeria as a religiously intolerant state.
Tinubu’s statement marks Nigeria’s firmest pushback yet against Washington’s renewed criticism, as his administration continues to face scrutiny over insecurity and religious tensions in parts of the country.
The President maintained that while Nigeria faces security challenges like many nations, such challenges are not rooted in religion and should not be misrepresented as targeted persecution of any faith group.
“We remain committed to protecting every Nigerian, irrespective of faith or ethnicity. Nigeria is not what they claim it is,” Tinubu said.
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