…Info Minister says talks with Washington ‘producing positive results’
Cynthia Ezegwu
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and the United States are producing positive results amid tensions triggered by recent remarks from US President Donald Trump.
Trump had claimed last month that Christianity in Nigeria faces an “existential threat” from radical Islamist groups, alleging that “thousands of Christians are being killed” and designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.” He also directed the Pentagon to prepare “options for possible military measures” against terrorist groups in the country.
The allegations were dismissed by President Bola Tinubu, who emphasized that Nigeria guarantees freedom of religion and protects the rights of all faiths. The comments also drew reactions from global powers, with China and Russia urging Washington to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
In an interview on Sky News’ The World With Yalda Hakim on Monday night, Idris confirmed that communication lines between Abuja and Washington have been re-established and are proving effective. This was reinforced in a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim.
“Channels of communication have been opened, I can confirm that; we are talking to them, and I think they are understanding the situation better,” Idris said. “We believe that most of the information is a result of a lack of proper understanding of the diversity and complexity of the problem we have at hand.”
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The minister alleged that certain lobby groups in the US have links to a proscribed separatist organisation in Nigeria and are working to misinform American authorities. “We are seeing a direct connection between (US) lobbyists and a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria. They have set up lobbies in the US, contacting high-level officials to push their agenda,” he said.
Idris reaffirmed Nigeria’s appreciation for its long-standing security partnership with the United States and called for continued collaboration in combating terrorism. “Yes, indeed, there is conflict in Nigeria, a security situation, but in the past the United States government has helped Nigerian authorities to deal with this situation. We are calling on them to partner with us once again to achieve lasting peace,” he said.
The minister also questioned the credibility of the data used to support claims of religious intolerance in Nigeria, describing it as largely unscientific. He reiterated that the Nigerian constitution enshrines religious freedom and emphasized that the country remains a multi-faith nation, despite ongoing security challenges.
“What we want at this point is an understanding of the diversity and the complexity of the situation,” Idris said, adding that Nigeria shares the concern of both its citizens and the international community over the ongoing killings but insists that these conflicts are not based on religious persecution.