President Bola Tinubu will meet with his United States counterpart, Donald Trump, in the coming days to discuss allegations of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, the Presidency has said.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, confirmed the planned meeting on Friday, noting that both leaders share a commitment to combating insurgency and terrorism.
“Both President Bola Tinubu and President Donald Trump have a shared interest in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity,” Bwala said in a statement.
He added that the meeting could take place either at the State House in Abuja or at the White House in Washington, depending on scheduling and diplomatic arrangements.
The announcement follows Trump’s recent remarks accusing the Nigerian government of ignoring attacks on Christians, a claim that has drawn widespread reactions at home and abroad. The former U.S. president also warned that Washington could suspend aid or take military action if the Nigerian government fails to address the alleged persecution. On Friday, Mr Trump declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” citing the killing of Christians by Islamic jihadists.
Bwala defended the government’s record, highlighting the Tinubu administration’s efforts to tackle insecurity across the country. He also acknowledged Trump’s past support for Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.
“President Trump has assisted Nigeria a lot by authorising the sale of arms to Nigeria, and President Tinubu has adequately utilised the opportunity in the fight against terrorism, for which we have massive results to show,” he said.
On the controversy over whether extremist groups in Nigeria target only Christians or attack people of all faiths, Bwala said any differences in perspective between the two leaders would be clarified during the talks.
“As for the differences as to whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or in fact all faiths and no faiths, the differences, if they exist, will be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet in the coming days,” he added.
Trump’s renewed attention to Nigeria follows weeks of pressure from U.S. lawmakers, including Riley Moore, who accused the Nigerian government of tolerating “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” and urged Washington to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). The declaration followed sustained campaigning by U.S. lawmakers such as Ted Cruz, Riley Moore, and Nancy Mace.
Several American lawmakers described the combined attacks by killer herdsmen, bandits, and terrorists in the North, which often affect Christians, as genocidal.
The Christian Association of Nigeria has affirmed there is a genocide against Christians and called for international intervention.
Mr Trump also ordered the U.S. Department of War to prepare to launch a potential military operation on Nigerian soil to rein in violent non-state actors terrorising Christians and others in the North.
President Tinubu says his administration is well ahead of the “orchestrated game” unfolding in the U.S.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga noted in a post on X on Sunday that the president had taken steps to tackle wanton killings by non-state actors, which the U.S. government described as targeted at Christians.
“President Bola Tinubu was well ahead of the orchestrated game unfolding in America as he told the new service chiefs on Thursday what Nigerians expect of them. No more excuses, he said. Nigerians want results,” Mr Onanuga said.
Mr Onanuga quoted the president: “Security threats are constantly evolving, constantly mutating. Of grave concern to our administration is the recent emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South. We must not allow these new threats to fester. We must be decisive and proactive. Let us smash the new snakes right in the head. I charge you, as the heads of our nation’s armed forces, to carry out your duties with patriotic zeal. Nigerians expect results, not excuses.”
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