By Muhammad Mamman
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, has revealed that the President is expected to meet with former US President Donald Trump as tensions escalate over claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria.
During a broadcast appearance, Bwala described allegations of targeted persecution of Christians as part of a “coordinated agenda” by certain US lawmakers and lobbyists, aimed at prompting Trump to re-designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for religious-freedom violations. He insisted that Nigeria faces broader insecurity challenges—including terrorism, banditry and communal violence—that affect all faiths, and that the genocide narrative is inaccurate.
Widening the story
- The CPC designation carries significant diplomatic implications: once applied, it gives the US authority to impose sanctions on government officials deemed complicit in systematic religious-freedom violations.
- Nigeria was previously listed as a CPC under Trump’s first administration in 2020, but the designation was lifted in 2021 under President Joe Biden, triggering criticism from some US legislators such as Ted Cruz.
- The Nigerian government response, as articulated by Bwala, emphasises that the administration is focusing on nation-wide security challenges rather than religious persecution alone, and that denying the genocide label does not mean neglecting victims.
- The potential meeting between President Tinubu and Trump signals high-stakes diplomacy. It could serve as an opportunity to defuse the crisis, present Nigeria’s narrative directly, and avert a diplomatic escalation. On the other hand, failure to resolve the matter might lead to damaged foreign relations, sanctions, and reputational harm for Nigeria.
- Internally, the episode reflects the complexity of Nigeria’s security landscape: how communal violence, insurgency, and religious tensions intersect—and how these dynamics are portrayed in international forums. It also raises questions about how governments manage global narratives related to human rights and sovereignty.
In sum, the proposed Tinubu-Trump meeting arrives at a pivotal moment: one where Nigeria’s external image, internal security policy, and diplomatic strategy converge. The outcome may define not only how Nigeria is perceived abroad, but also how it navigates the interplay between foreign pressure and domestic realities.
