By Atoyebi Nike
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that ongoing diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States is yielding positive results following recent tensions between the two governments.
The statement comes after US President Donald Trump alleged last month that Christianity in Nigeria faced an “existential threat” from radical Islamist groups, claiming “thousands of Christians are being killed” and labeling Nigeria a “country of particular concern.”
Trump also directed the Pentagon to explore “possible military measures” against terrorist groups in Nigeria, comments that were swiftly dismissed by President Bola Tinubu and drew concern from global powers including China and Russia.
The minister also alleged that certain US-based lobby groups are connected to proscribed separatist organizations in Nigeria, working to misinform American authorities.
“We are seeing a direct connection between (US) lobbyists and a proscribed terrorist organization in Nigeria, contacting high-level officials in the United States to push their agenda,” he said.
Idris reaffirmed Nigeria’s long-standing security partnership with Washington, calling for continued collaboration to tackle terrorism.
“Indeed, we have conflict and security challenges in Nigeria, but in the past, the United States has helped Nigerian authorities address these issues. We are calling on them to partner with us once again to restore lasting peace,” he said.
The minister questioned the credibility of US data used to support claims of religious intolerance, insisting that Nigeria remains a multi-faith nation and that the constitution enshrines religious freedom.
“What we want is an understanding of the diversity and complexity of the situation. Some of the assumptions are based on data that largely cannot stand any scientific scrutiny,” he said.
Idris stressed that Nigeria shares the concerns of both its citizens and the international community regarding killings but emphasized that the ongoing conflict is not driven by religious persecution.
