The Presidency says President Bola Tinubu will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming days to discuss allegations of a Christian genocide in Nigeria and to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, said on X on Saturday that the meeting — which could take place at the State House in Abuja or the White House — will focus on “counterterrorism cooperation and clarifying misconceptions about the nature of terrorist attacks in Nigeria.”
Bwala said both leaders share a common interest in fighting insurgency and other forms of terrorism. He also noted that Trump “has assisted Nigeria a lot by authorising the sale of arms,” and that Tinubu “has adequately utilised that opportunity in the fight against terrorism, with massive results to show for it.”
The planned meeting follows comments by Trump and calls from U.S. Republican Representative Riley Moore accusing Nigeria of systematic persecution of Christians. Moore asked the State Department to consider redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and to suspend arms sales pending evidence of a “tangible commitment” by the Nigerian government to end the violence.
On Friday, Trump said Nigeria was a “country of particular concern,” and on Saturday he wrote on Truth Social that he had instructed the Pentagon to map out a possible plan of action. “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” he said.
The Nigerian federal government has repeatedly rejected claims that terrorists target only Christians, saying attacks affect people of all faiths. Bwala said that differences over the characterization of the violence would be discussed and “resolved” by Tinubu and Trump when they meet.
Background: The debate has intensified after weeks of reporting and statements by U.S. lawmakers alleging widespread violence against Christians in Nigeria. The Presidency’s announcement signals a diplomatic effort to address those allegations while reaffirming cooperation on counterterrorism.
