- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Government has faulted the designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the United States President, Donald Trump.
NPO Reported that Trump had included Nigeria in the list as he said the degree of killings of Christians in Nigeria has reached an alarming peak, adding that the United States cannot continue to watch without taking actions.
His categorization came shortly after Nigeria’s Minister of Information Mohammed Idris appeared on Cable News Network defending allegations that Christians are the target of killings in Nigeria.
”Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump said in his post on Truth, the microblogging App he set up after he was banned from X.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held that Trump’s claims does not reflect the current situation in Nigeria.
While acknowledging the global concern for human rights and religious freedom, the Ministry reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fighting terrorism and strengthening interfaith harmony.
The FG noted that it will continue to have constructive engagement with the US Government to depen mutual understanding of the Nigeria’s regional dynamics.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria notes the recent remarks by U.S. President Donald J. Trump alleging large-scale killings of Christians in Nigeria and calling for the country’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
“While Nigeria appreciates global concern for human rights and religious freedom, these claims do not reflect the situation on the ground. Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria remains committed to fighting terrorism, strengthening interfaith harmony, and protecting the lives and rights of all its people.
“Nigeria will continue to engage constructively with the Government of the United States to deepen mutual understanding of regional dynamics and the country’s ongoing peace and security efforts.” The statement read.
Meanwhile, Trump had assured of the readiness of America to save fellow Christians across the globe.
”Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote.
According to the US president, he was placing Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and most populous nation, on a “Countries of Particular Concern” list of nations the US deems to have engaged in religious freedom violations.
Other nations in list, as published on the State Department’s website, include China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan, among others.