President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting religious freedom and upholding constitutional guarantees of liberty for all Nigerians, dismissing recent claims portraying the country as intolerant.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, in a post on Friday, claimed that Christianity was facing an existential threat in Nigeria, alleging widespread killings of Christians by “radical Islamists.”
He stated, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’—but that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria, something must be done!”
Trump also called on Congressman Riley Moore, Chairman Tom Cole, and the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the matter and report to him.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, President Tinubu, in his reaction, said Nigeria remains “a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” adding that his government continues to maintain active engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders across the country.
“Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges that affect citizens across faiths and regions,” Tinubu said.
He described the characterisation of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant nation as inaccurate, insisting it does not reflect the nation’s reality or the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard freedom of religion and belief.
Tinubu reaffirmed that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees protection for citizens of all faiths, emphasising that the federal government remains committed to fostering cooperation with the United States and the international community in promoting mutual understanding and protection of religious communities.
