The Federal Government has confirmed that diplomatic channels have been opened with the United States following Washington’s recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged religious persecution.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known on Thursday after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The issue was discussed during the FEC deliberations, Idris said, assuring that the government was handling it responsibly and in a manner that protects Nigeria’s sovereignty and stability.
“The Nigerian government is responding to the genuine concerns raised. The politics of it aside, we genuinely are taking the issues seriously,” Idris said. He underscored that President Tinubu and his cabinet were calm, focused, and working to strengthen national security and interfaith harmony.
“Are there security issues in this country? Yes. Are people being killed in parts of this country? Yes. But is the government doing anything to check that? Yes, indeed,” he added.
The minister emphasized that Nigeria prefers a diplomatic resolution and was already engaging with the U.S. and other international partners, noting that terrorism and violent extremism were global challenges that require joint action.
“We have porous borders, and that is why we have cooperation with our regional and international partners, including the United States. Channels have been opened. We prefer that this situation be solved diplomatically,” Idris said.
He reassured that Nigeria remained a country of religious tolerance and that it would continue to protect the constitutional right of every citizen to worship freely.
“There is no panic mode here. We are responding responsibly, steadily, and in the interest of our country,” he added.
Shettima: Bullets and Bombs Know No Religion
Vice President Kashim Shettima also urged caution against divisive narratives, warning that violence affects all Nigerians regardless of faith or ethnicity.
Represented by Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Shettima spoke at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting organised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
“A bullet or bomb has neither ethnicity nor religion. When the enemies of peace fire it, it does not discriminate. It kills the farmer and the trader alike,” he said.
He called for collective national unity, inclusive development, and responsible communication to counter extremism, adding that “our messaging must be rooted in empathy and understanding.”
History Will Remember You If You Stop Bloodshed, Christian Council Tells Tinubu
The Christian Council of Nigeria called on President Tinubu to take decisive action to stop killings, kidnappings, and religious violence, describing the U.S. designation as a “wake-up call.”
In a statement signed by its president, Most Rev. Dr. David Onuoha, and general secretary, Rt. Rev. Dr. Evans Onyemara, the Council said the move should not be viewed as an attack on Nigeria’s sovereignty but an opportunity for international cooperation in addressing insecurity.
“The US move should be seen as an opportunity to receive support in tackling insurgency and violent extremism that have devastated our nation for almost two decades,” the statement read.
Tinubu: Nigeria will defeat terrorism, strengthen global partnerships
President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment toward ridding the nation of terrorism, while deepening Nigeria’s partnership with other nations of the world. At the FEC meeting, he expressed optimism that Nigeria would overcome its challenges through diplomacy, unity, and economic resilience.
“The most important thing is that, despite political and global headwinds, we will continue to engage with our partners. We will defeat terrorism in our country,” assured Tinubu.
Experts Back Diplomacy Over Confrontation
Other analysts have also welcomed Tinubu’s move for diplomatic engagement with Washington in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of a possible military intervention in Nigeria.
President of the Nigerian Political Scientists Association, Prof. Hassan Saliu, said diplomacy was the only sensible route, noting that “Placed side by side with America in terms of power, it is obvious Nigeria would be nowhere to be found. We must act wisely.”
Vice Chancellor of the African School of Economics, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, described Trump as “a bull in a china shop,” urging Tinubu to educate him on Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The move was also hailed by former presidential candidate Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies as “wise and peace-driven,” while Dr. Segun Sadraq from the University of Abuja termed the gesture “a defining moment in Nigeria’s foreign relations.” Ex-AFRICOM Chief Warns Against Unilateral US Action In the meantime, ex-U.S. AFRICOM Commander General William Kip Ward warned against unilateral U.S. military intervention in Nigeria, adding that such an operation must be conducted in line with international law and with the consent of Nigeria. Speaking on Arise News, Ward explained: “Governments have a responsibility to protect their citizens, but foreign military action must be approached with great care.” He reiterated that AFRICOM would, if called upon, lead any U.S. operation on the continent, but he expressed that this type of mission requires a proper risk assessment and harmonization with partner nations. “The people of Nigeria have the right to believe that their government and security forces are protecting them,” he said, reiterating that diplomacy and cooperation remain the most legitimate tools to deal with shared security challenges.
