By Ireti Asemota.
President Bola Tinubu has dismissed the description of Nigeria as a nation hostile to religious freedom, insisting that the country remains committed to protecting the rights of citizens of all faiths.His response comes in response to a statement made by President Donald Trump of the United States, who on Friday referred to Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to the alleged persecution of Christians there.
In a post on his Truth Social account, which the White House later shared on X, Trump asserted that “thousands of Christians are being killed” by “radical Islamists” and that Christianity was facing an “existential threat” in Nigeria. Trump wrote, “I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern,'” requesting that lawmakers in the United States conduct an investigation into the matter and provide him with a report. He argued that urgent action was required to safeguard Christians worldwide and that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening.” Tinubu said in a post on X on Saturday that Nigeria is still a democratic country that is guided by constitutional protections for religious liberty for all citizens. He wrote, “Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.
“Since 2023, our administration has continued to address security challenges that affect citizens of all faiths and regions and has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders.” Tinubu rejected suggestions that Nigeria encourages religious persecution, stressing that the country’s diversity remains a pillar of national unity.
The assertion that Nigeria is religiously intolerable does not accurately reflect our national reality, nor does it take into account the government’s consistent and sincere efforts to protect religious and belief freedom for all Nigerians,” he stated. Tolerance and religious freedom have always been and will always be fundamental tenets of our collective identity. Nigeria discourages and opposes religious persecution. Tinubu went on to say that his administration will continue to work with the United States and other partners to protect vulnerable communities worldwide. He continued, “Our administration is committed to working with the government of the United States and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on the protection of communities of all faiths.”
